Artwork
Scipio the Negro
Scipio the Negro is an oil painting by the Realist artist Paul Cézanne. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the São Paulo Museum of Art.
About this work
It surprised visitors to Monet’s studio in Giverny, including critic Louis Vauxcelles, who called it striking and worthy of Delacroix.
Scipio the Negro is an oil painting by Paul Cézanne, dated 1867. It shows a model named Scipion in the artist’s studio.
Cézanne painted the figure with an elongated torso and a muscular back. He used broad brushstrokes and varied colors to shape the tone. Art historians see it as a strong early work. It surprised visitors to Monet’s studio in Giverny, including critic Louis Vauxcelles, who called it striking and worthy of Delacroix.
You can see more at the São Paulo Museum of Art.
Overview
Scipio the Negro is an 1867 oil painting by Paul Cézanne, depicting a model named Scipion in the artist's studio, characterized by an elongated torso and muscular back rendered through expressive brushwork and nuanced color modulation.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Scipion, is portrayed in a straightforward, non-narrative manner, focusing on the physical presence of the model, with the artistic emphasis on capturing the play of color and texture on the body, particularly the back.
Technique & Style
Cézanne employed broad, expressive brushstrokes and a varied color palette to modulate the tone of Scipion's back, showcasing an early instance of his Post-Impressionist tendencies in capturing form and texture.
History & Provenance
Initially displayed at Monet's studio in Giverny, the painting surprised visitors, notably critic Louis Vauxcelles, who praised its striking quality, likening it to the work of Delacroix. It is now part of the collection at the São Paulo Museum of Art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Cézanne ( say-ZAN, UK also siz-AN, US also say-ZAHN; French: ; Occitan: Pau Cesana; 19 January 1839 – 22 October 1906) was a French Post-Impressionist painter whose work introduced new modes of representation,…
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