Artwork
The Trial of Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc series: VI)
The Trial of Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc series: VI) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: M. Boutet de Monvel
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Joan of Arc in the setting of her historic trial, capturing the moment of legal judgment against the young martyr.
The painting shows Joan of Arc in the setting of her historic trial, capturing the moment of legal judgment against the young martyr. As the sixth installment of the artist’s Joan of Arc series, the work uses the figure of Joan to embody themes of injustice, sacrifice, and the confrontation between authority and faith. The composition centers on the accused heroine, a subject that allows the artist to explore the dramatic tension of courtroom proceedings while referencing the broader narrative of her martyrdom.
The piece thus serves as both a historical record and a symbolic meditation on the legal persecution of visionary figures.
Technique & Style
The Trial of Joan of Arc is executed in oil and gold leaf on canvas, a combination that lends the work a luminous, decorative quality characteristic of Boutet de Monvel's Joan of Arc cycle. The format is markedly horizontal, measuring approximately 75.57 cm in height by 171.45 cm in width, giving the composition a wide, frieze-like span suited to its narrative subject. The use of gold leaf alongside oil paint is consistent with the artist's broader practice of marrying traditional medievalizing materials with modern painting techniques, producing a surface that combines pictorial depth with gilded, ornamental accents.
The painting remains in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., which acquired it in 2015 following its earlier provenance through the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
History & Provenance
Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel executed The Trial of Joan of Arc between late 1909 and early 1910. The work was commissioned by William A. Clark of New York. Following Clark's death, the painting entered the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as part of a bequest finalized in April 1926.
The institution retained the work until 2015, at which point it was acquired by the National Gallery of Art, where it remains in the collection.
The Trial of Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc series: VI) is currently held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The work was originally commissioned by William A. Clark of New York and entered the Corcoran Gallery of Art as a bequest in April 1926. It remained in the Corcoran's collection until the National Gallery of Art acquired the painting in 2015. The source material does not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the work, nor does it document a history of public exhibitions.
Context
Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel painted The Trial of Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc series: VI) around 1909–1910 using oil and gold leaf on canvas (75.6 cm × 171.5 cm). The work was commissioned by William A. Clark and entered the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1926 before being acquired by the National Gallery of Art in 2015.
Scholars interpret the painting as a synthesis of Symbolist narrative and Art Nouveau decoration, reflecting Boutet de Monvel’s broader fascination with historical martyrdom. Critical discussions highlight its decorative gold leaf and evocative portrayal of Joan of Arc, positioning the piece within early twentieth‑century revivals of medieval legend and underscoring its significance in the development of narrative painting in the United States.
Legacy
The painting titled The Trial of Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc series: VI) was created by Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel around 1909–1910 using oil and gold leaf on canvas to depict Joan of Arc.
It entered the collection of William A. Clark, was bequeathed to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in 2015, now held in Washington, D.C.
The work measures 75.57 by 171.45 centimeters and is part of a major public collection, reflecting its recognized significance in early twentieth‑century French representations of the saint.
Overview
This painting, The Trial of Joan of Arc (Joan of Arc series: VI), was created by Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel around 1909. It is an oil and gold leaf work on canvas. The piece is part of a larger series dedicated to the life of Joan of Arc, focusing here on a pivotal moment in her history. It captures a solemn scene, depicting the Maid of Orléans during her ecclesiastical trial.
Artist & collection
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