Artwork
The Turmoil of Conflict (Joan of Arc series: IV)
The Turmoil of Conflict (Joan of Arc series: IV) 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 left: M. Boutet de Monvel
About this work
Subject & Meaning
While the title suggests a focus on the chaos of battle or internal struggle, the primary iconographic subject remains the French heroine herself.
The painting depicts Joan of Arc, the central figure of the artist's historical series. As the fourth installment in the Joan of Arc series, the work titled The Turmoil of Conflict visually narrates a specific episode from her life. The composition emphasizes the dramatic nature of her story through the use of oil and gold leaf on canvas.
While the title suggests a focus on the chaos of battle or internal struggle, the primary iconographic subject remains the French heroine herself. The work serves as a visual representation of her legacy within the broader context of the series commissioned by William A. Clark.
Technique & Style
Created between approximately 1909 and 1913, The Turmoil of Conflict (Joan of Arc series: IV) is an oil painting on canvas that incorporates gold leaf as a distinct material element. The work measures 75.57 cm in height and 172.72 cm in width, presenting a substantial horizontal format typical of the artist's narrative series. Executed by Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel, the piece depicts Joan of Arc, utilizing the luminous quality of the gold leaf alongside traditional oil pigments to define the scene.
The painting was originally commissioned by William A. Clark and later entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., following its transfer from the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
History & Provenance
Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel executed The Turmoil of Conflict between late 1909 and early 1913. The work was commissioned by the American politician and art collector William A. Clark for his residence in New York. Following Clark's death in 1925, the painting entered the collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as part of a bequest finalized in April 1926.
The artwork remained with the Corcoran until 2015, at which point it was acquired by the National Gallery of Art, where it is currently held.
The Turmoil of Conflict (Joan of Arc series: IV) 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 collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in April 1926 following Clark's bequest. In 2015, the National Gallery of Art acquired the painting from the Corcoran. No specific inventory or accession numbers are provided in the available records, nor is there documentation of a specific exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel created The Turmoil of Conflict (Joan of Arc series: IV) around 1909. This painting, executed in oil and gold leaf on canvas, is one installment in a larger sequence dedicated to the life of Joan of Arc. It presents a scene from the historical figure's narrative, characterized by a sense of dramatic intensity, reflecting a pivotal moment in her story.
Artist & collection
Rückzug von Marignano. Karton III
The Battle of Fornovo
Niccolò Mauruzi da Tolentino unseats Bernardino della Ciarda at the Battle of San Romano
The Battle of the Moneybags and the Strongboxes
Reitergefecht
Battle in a Wood
The Battle of St. James the Greater at Clavijo
Battle of Leckerbetken
Mock Joust of War with Flying Shields and Without Bevors
The storming of Schweidnitz in 1761
Horatius Cocles Defending the Sublician Bridge