Artwork
The Vision and Inspiration (Joan of Arc series: I)
The Vision and Inspiration (Joan of Arc series: I) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel. It dates from 1907 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
As a visual narrative, the piece underscores the intersection of historical agency and transcendent calling that defines Joan of Arc’s enduring iconography.
The painting presents Joan of Arc in the moment of her legendary vision, a theme reflected in its title The Vision and Inspiration (Joan of Arc series: I). By portraying the French heroine amid symbolic attributes of authority and resolve, the work conveys her role as a divinely inspired leader who guided France during the Hundred Years' War.
The use of oil combined with gold leaf suggests a luminous, almost sacred atmosphere, reinforcing the notion of spiritual guidance. As a visual narrative, the piece underscores the intersection of historical agency and transcendent calling that defines Joan of Arc’s enduring iconography.
Technique & Style
The Vision and Inspiration (Joan of Arc series: I) is executed in oil and gold leaf on canvas. Created circa 1907 to early 1909, the work measures approximately 75.57 cm in height and 168.91 cm in width. The inclusion of gold leaf alongside traditional oil paint suggests a deliberate formal choice to elevate the spiritual or visionary subject matter depicting Joan of Arc.
This combination of materials contributes to the painting's luminous quality and distinct stylistic character within the artist's oeuvre.
History & Provenance
The work was commissioned by American industrialist William A. Clark, who ordered it as part of his patronage of French decorative arts. Clark retained the painting until his death in 1925, after which he bequeathed it to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in April 1926. The painting remained in the Corcoran's collection until 2015, when the National Gallery of Art acquired it, where it is presently held.
Executed circa 1907 to the early 1909, it is an oil and gold‑leaf canvas measuring 75.57 cm by 168.91 cm, depicting Joan of Arc.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection via the Corcoran Gallery of Art. It was bequeathed by William A. Clark in April 1926 to the Corcoran Gallery of Art and transferred to the National Gallery of Art in 2015.
The work’s dimensions are 75.57 cm in height and 168.91 cm in width.
Overview
Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel's painting, The Vision and Inspiration (Joan of Arc series: I), created around 1907, utilizes oil and gold leaf on canvas. This work is the initial piece in a larger series dedicated to the life of Joan of Arc. It presents a focused portrayal of the historical figure, capturing a moment of personal significance rather than public action.
Artist & collection
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