S EVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH–CENTURY FRENCH PAINTINGS FROM THE HORVITZ COLLECTION
EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION
PAINTINGS ON VIEW
Jean-Baptiste-Marie Pierre (French, 1713 – 1789), Pan and Syrinx, 1746, oil on canvas, 35 ½ X 55 ½ in., Inv. No. P-F-57
Michel Corneille the younger (French, 1642 – 1708), Moses Saved from the Tiber’s Waters, oil on canvas, 38 ½ X 47 in., Inv. No. P-F-140
Jean-Baptiste Deshays (French, 1729 – 1765), Galatea Discovering Celadon, oil on canvas, 20 ½ X 15 in., Inv. No. P-F-88
Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732 – 1806), Death of Cleopatra, oil on canvas, 14 ½ X 17 ¾ in., Inv. No. P-F-138
Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée (French, 1725 – 1805), Sarah Presenting Hagar to Abraham, oil on copper, laid down on panel, 11 ½ X 14 ¼ in., Inv. No. P-F-10
Nicolas de Largillière (French, 1656 – 1746), Christ in the House of Mary and Martha, oil on canvas, 19 ½ X 25 ½ in., Inv. No. P-F-23
Charles Meynier (French, 1768 – 1832), Hecuba Discovering the Body of Her Son, Polydorus, oil on canvas, 23 ¼ X 29 ½ in., Inv. No. P-F-142
Charles-François Poerson (French, 1609 – 1667), Meeting of Abraham and Cleopatra, oil on canvas, 8 X 6 ¼ in., Inv. No. P-F-13
Louis-Michel Vanloo (French, 1707 – 1771), Charles-Nicolas Cochin the younger, 1767, oil on canvas, 29 X 23 ½ In., Inv. No. P-F-147
Louis-Michel Vanloo (French, 1707 – 1771), Geneviève-Françoise-Laurette Randon da Malboissière as Melpomene, oil on canvas, 36 ¼ X 28 ¼ in., Inv. No. P-F-39
Gods and heroes populated the most respected 18th-century French art as a consequence of the teaching promoted by the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture (Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture), founded in 1648. The Academy encouraged artists to represent humanity — its physical forms and passions — in works with historical, mythological, and religious themes. Rigorous academic training comprised a minimum of seven years of study. Candidates would perfect the art of drawing by copying old masters before moving on to making studies after classical sculptures and, if successful, the living model. At the end of their training, students competed for the coveted Prix de Rome (Rome Prize). Later, in order to become members of the Académie, they were required to submit two diploma pieces on an assigned topic that would display both their technical skill and their interpretation of historical subjects. Although not all of the artists featured in this exhibition pursued a career as a history painter — Nicolas de Largillière was a prolific portrait painter and Jean-Honoré Fragonard was most famous for his gallant scenes — the vast majority of the top artists emerged from the same artistic cradle, one which survived until the end of the 19th century.
The exhibition is curated by Alvin L. Clark, Jr., The Horvitz Collection and The J.E. Horvitz Consultative Curator, Department of Drawings, Division of European and American Art, Harvard Art Museums/Fogg. An illustrated catalogue of the drawings will be available for purchase at the bookstore.
Jean-Baptiste-Marie Pierre (French, 1713 – 1789), Pan and Syrinx Louis-Michel Vanloo (French, 1707 – 1771), Geneviève-Françoise-Laurette Randon Da Malboissière as Melpomene (Detail)
Jean-Baptiste Deshays (French, 1729 – 1765), Galatea Discovering Celadon
Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée (French, 1725 – 1805), Sarah Presenting Hagar to Abraham
Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732 – 1806), Death of Cleopatra
Nicolas de Largillière (French, 1656 – 1746), Christ in the House of Mary and Martha
Michel Corneille the younger (French, 1642 – 1708), Moses Saved from the Tiber’s Waters
Charles-François Poerson (French, 1609 – 1667), Meeting of Abraham and Cleopatra