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Couronnement de Voltaire (The Crowning of Voltaire)

Charles-Etienne Gaucher

1782

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Couronnement de Voltaire (The Crowning of Voltaire) is a 1782 ink by Charles-Etienne Gaucher, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Charles-Etienne Gaucher
When & what style?: 1782 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a group of people gathered around a pedestal, with a woman placing a wreath on a man's head. The scene is set in a grand, stone building with arches and columns. The people are dressed in classical-style clothing, and the atmosphere seems to be one of celebration. In the foreground, the man being crowned is standing on a pedestal, while the woman placing the wreath is standing on a lower level. The surrounding crowd is made up of men and women, all dressed in formal attire. The background of the painting features a large stone archway, with a balcony above it. The overall effect is one of grandeur and ceremony. If you're interested in learning more about this style of art, you might want to check out the Romanticism movement.