An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Study for the Assumption of the Virgin1758
Artist: Jean-Baptiste Deshays
French, 1729 - 1765
19 1/4 x 11 3/8 in. (48.9 x 28.89 cm) (canvas)
27 x 19 x 2 in. (68.58 x 48.26 x 5.08 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on paper
Painting
France
18th century
The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund
In the heart of an artist's mind, where colors dance and ideas swirl, a captivating scene unfolds. Picture a lively oil sketch, brimming with movement and life. Behold the Virgin Mary as she ascends to the heavens, enveloped by a chorus of angels. Their wings glimmer like celestial flames, fluttering around her, carrying her spirit from her resting place — a tomb filled with reverence.
This enchanting depiction was crafted by Jean-Baptiste Deshays in the year 1758, a period of great change and inspiration in his life. It marked his return to Paris after a fruitful four-year adventure in Rome, where the richness of the Renaissance had woven itself into his creative soul. Just as the evening sun casts shadows that dance upon the walls, Deshays found himself in the shadow of another great artist, his father-in-law, François Boucher.
Married to Boucher’s eldest daughter, Deshays was no stranger to the vibrant brush strokes and intricate details that defined Boucher’s work. Imagine the days spent under Boucher’s watchful eye, absorbing the nuances and techniques of a painter held in high esteem. When Mia acquired this oil sketch, it was initially thought to be a piece by Boucher himself — an echo of similarity to three known oil sketches from his talented hand.
However, as time revealed its secrets, art historians embarked on a journey of discovery that led them back to Deshays. This sketch was undeniably the product of his creative mind, where inspiration from Boucher mingled with Deshays’ own unique vision. What emerged was a striking interplay of bolder color combinations that spoke of a fiery passion, diverging from the softer, more emotive figures that Boucher often favored.
Through this work, one can almost feel the pulse of two artistic generations colliding — the energy of a man stepping out of his mentor's shadow and into the light of his own expression. Each brush stroke and color choice whispers tales of ambition and identity, inviting us to reflect on the influences that shape us, even as we strive to carve our own paths in the world. So, there lies Deshays' sketch, a vivid testament to the journey between the inspiration of the past and the bold brush of one’s own creation.
About the artist
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