Artwork
Sunday at the Church of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, Paris
Sunday at the Church of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, Paris is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Jean Béraud. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in oil on canvas in 1877, the work reflects Jean Béraud’s interest in documenting the nuanced social fabric of Paris.
The painting portrays the interior of the Église Saint‑Philippe‑du‑Roule on a Sunday, where a bourgeois woman, a gentleman, a child and other figures occupy the nave and surrounding street. The composition juxtaposes the sacred architecture with contemporary Parisian attire, suggesting a commentary on the intersection of religious ritual and everyday urban life in the late 19th century. The meticulous rendering of the church’s interior, the modest furnishings, and the modestly dressed congregants convey a realistic snapshot of Second Empire society, while the presence of a child at prayer hints at generational continuity.
Executed in oil on canvas in 1877, the work reflects Jean Béraud’s interest in documenting the nuanced social fabric of Paris.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a support typical of mid‑19th‑century French easel works, and measures roughly 59.4 cm in height by 81 cm in width. Béraud completed the piece in 1877, the same year it entered the Salon exhibition. The composition captures the interior of the Church of Saint‑Philippe‑du‑Roule, Paris, with a realist treatment of architectural detail and naturalistic lighting that bathes the figures, a woman, a man, a child and other worshippers, in soft chiaroscuro.
Brushwork renders textures of stone, fabric and skin with fine precision, reflecting the artist’s academic technique. The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.
History & Provenance
The work titled Sunday at the Church of Saint‑Philippe‑du‑Roule, Paris was painted by Jean Béraud in 1877 using oil on canvas. It measures 59.4 × 81 cm and was first exhibited at the Salon of 1877. The painting depicts the interior of the church on rue du Faubourg‑Saint‑Honoré, showing a woman, a man, a child and the building’s architecture.
Following its exhibition, the artwork entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its provenance therefore traces from the 1877 Salon showing to acquisition by the museum.
Context
Jean Béraud’s 1877 oil on canvas, Sunday at the Church of Saint‑Philippe‑du‑Roule, Paris, was shown at the Salon of 1877 and later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work portrays a crowded interior of the church on the rue du Faubourg‑Saint‑Honoré, capturing a moment of bourgeois piety amid urban life. Its exhibition at the Salon reflects the acceptance of genre scenes depicting contemporary Parisian settings within the academic tradition, while its current display in a major museum underscores the enduring interest in Béraud’s documentation of Second Empire visual culture.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Sunday at the Church of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, Paris, captures a vibrant street scene in the French capital. It depicts the area surrounding the prominent Saint-Philippe-du-Roule church, bustling with activity. The artist renders a moment of daily life, showcasing the architecture and social dynamics of 19th-century Paris through a detailed urban landscape.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Béraud (French: ; 12 January 1849 – 4 October 1935) was a French painter renowned for his numerous paintings of life in Paris and especially its nightlife.
