Le Stryge de Notre Dame
1890
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1890
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Le Stryge de Notre Dame is a 1890 by Auguste Lepère, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting depicts a gargoyle perched on a ledge, gazing out over a cityscape. The gargoyle's head is turned to the right, and it has large wings and a long tail. In the background, a church steeple rises above the rooftops, and birds fly through the air. The painting is rendered in a range of grays, with the gargoyle and buildings depicted in darker tones and the sky and birds in lighter shades. The overall effect is one of moody, atmospheric realism. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing the viewer's eye into the scene. To learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
