The Hermit
1799
Jean-Baptiste Greuze was basically the Steven Spielberg of 18th-century French painting, specializing in emotional, story-driven scenes that often taught a moral lesson. In this late work from 1799, he depicts a holy hermit who seems to be holding court for a group of captivated village girls. The old man hands out rosaries like autographs while a younger monk looks on, set against a rugged backdrop with a wooden bridge and a cross. Even though it’s a religious subject, the glowing faces and rustic-chic dresses give it the theatrical flair of a soap opera, which was exactly Greuze’s signature style.
Views: 4