Artwork
A Shipwreck in a Storm
A Shipwreck in a Storm is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Baptiste Pillement. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the precariousness of maritime travel, presenting the ship and the man as central elements of the narrative.
Jean‑Baptiste Pillement painted A Shipwreck in a Storm in 1782, a canvas that illustrates a tumultuous sea scene with a vessel contending against the waves and a solitary figure aboard.
The composition emphasizes the precariousness of maritime travel, presenting the ship and the man as central elements of the narrative.
The work, classified as a painting, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its iconography aligns with 18th‑century interests in dramatic natural forces and the human struggle against them.
Technique & Style
A Shipwreck in a Storm is an oil painting executed in 1782 by Jean‑Baptiste Pillement. The work measures 62.9 cm in height and 91.4 cm in width and is classified simply as a painting. Its composition centers on a turbulent maritime scene that includes a ship and a solitary figure, reflecting the era’s fascination with dramatic seascapes.
The piece is presently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. No further details regarding the support, handling or current condition are recorded in the documented sources.
History & Provenance
A Shipwreck in a Storm was created by Jean-Baptiste Pillement in 1782. The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located. No further details regarding its commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody are documented in the available sources.
The work measures 62.9 cm in height and 91.4 cm in width, consistent with its classification as a painting.
Overview
Jean-Baptiste Pillement, a French artist recognized for his refined landscapes and decorative designs, completed A Shipwreck in a Storm in 1792. This painting dramatically portrays a maritime disaster, depicting a vessel succumbing to a tempestuous sea. The work captures the raw power of nature and the desperate struggle for survival, a departure from some of his more tranquil subjects. It is housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Context
While Pillement was widely known for disseminating the Rococo style and chinoiserie motifs across Europe through his extensive engravings, A Shipwreck in a Storm demonstrates his versatility. This painting, with its focus on natural drama and human struggle, aligns with broader late 18th-century interests in the sublime, offering a powerful emotional experience distinct from the decorative elegance often associated with his other works.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Pillement (24 May 1728 – 26 April 1808) was a French painter and designer, known for his exquisite and delicate landscapes, but whose importance lies primarily in the engravings done after his drawings,…
