Artwork
The Maid in Armor on Horseback (Joan of Arc series: III)
The Maid in Armor on Horseback (Joan of Arc series: III) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: M. Boutet de Monvel
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of gold leaf in the medium enhances the heroic and perhaps sacred nature of the figure, reinforcing her status as a legendary heroine.
The painting depicts Joan of Arc, historically known as the Maid of Orléans, portrayed in full armor while mounted on a horse. This imagery aligns with the subject's identity as a military leader and national figure, emphasizing her role as a warrior rather than a traditional domestic or religious icon. The work is part of a series dedicated to her life, specifically identified as the third installment.
The inclusion of gold leaf in the medium enhances the heroic and perhaps sacred nature of the figure, reinforcing her status as a legendary heroine. The composition focuses entirely on her martial presence, presenting her as a dynamic and commanding force.
Technique & Style
The Maid in Armor on Horseback (Joan of Arc series: III) is executed in oil and gold leaf on a canvas support. Created circa 1908 to late 1909, the work measures 75.57 cm in height and 171.45 cm in width. The application of gold leaf alongside oil paint suggests a deliberate formal choice to imbue the depiction of Joan of Arc with a luminous, perhaps devotional or heroic quality, distinguishing it from standard oil painting techniques of the period.
History & Provenance
The painting The Maid in Armor on Horseback was created by Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel circa 1908 to late 1909. It was originally commissioned by William A. Clark of New York. Upon Clark's death in 1925, the work was bequeathed in April 1926 to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The National Gallery of Art subsequently acquired the piece in 2015, where it remains part of the collection.
The work is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It was acquired by the museum in 2015 after being bequeathed to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in April 1926 by collector William A. Clark. The painting, titled The Maid in Armor on Horseback (Joan of Arc series: III), remains in the National Gallery's collection and has not been documented in separate exhibition records within the provided sources.
Overview
The painting "The Maid in Armor on Horseback (Joan of Arc series: III)" was created by Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel around 1908. This particular work is the third piece within a larger sequence dedicated to the historical figure of Joan of Arc. Through this series, Boutet de Monvel explored various pivotal moments and aspects of her life, contributing to the visual narrative surrounding the French heroine.
Artist & collection
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