Artwork
Study of Olympe Pelissier as Judith
Study of Olympe Pelissier as Judith is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Horace Vernet. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Study of Olympe Pelissier as Judith is a 1831 oil painting by Émile Jean-Horace Vernet, a French artist known for his battle scenes, portraits, and Orientalist subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a calm, bare-shouldered woman, identified as Olympe Pelissier, portrayed as the biblical figure Judith. Her serene expression and smooth hairstyle convey a sense of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
The artist employed loose brushstrokes to achieve a soft, luminous effect on the subject's skin. The use of chiaroscuro creates depth, with light and shadow defining the forms of her face and upper body against a plain, warm yellow background.
History & Provenance
The painting is associated with French Romanticism and is now part of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Émile Jean-Horace Vernet (French pronunciation:; 30 June 1789 – 17 January 1863), better known as Horace Vernet, was a French painter of battles, portraits, and Orientalist subjects.
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