Artwork
The Storm
The Storm is an oil painting by the Academic Art artist Pierre Auguste Cot. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject evokes the vulnerability of humans before nature's power, with the storm symbolizing both physical danger and emotional intensity.
The Storm (1880) by Pierre Auguste Cot is a genre scene that depicts a dramatic encounter between a man and a woman caught in a tempest. The painting portrays the male and female figures (identified in the work's metadata) together with the storm itself, set within a landscape that includes trees, clouds, and other natural elements. The work is based on earlier literary or artistic sources, suggesting a narrative underpinning.
The subject evokes the vulnerability of humans before nature's power, with the storm symbolizing both physical danger and emotional intensity. The couple's intertwined poses and the sweeping composition convey a sense of urgency and romantic tension, making the storm a metaphor for the tumultuous forces of passion and fate.
Technique & Style
Pierre Auguste Cot's The Storm (1880) is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 234.3 × 156.8 cm. The work belongs to the Academic art movement and is classified as a genre scene. The medium and support are consistent with standard academic practice of the late 19th century, with oil paint applied to a canvas support. While condition and handling details are not recorded in the sources, the large-format composition reflects the artist's engagement with narrative and emotional content typical of Academic genre painting.
The formal qualities, including the choice of medium and support, align with the conventions of academic salon painting of the period.
Overview
Pierre Auguste Cot's oil painting, The Storm (La Tempête), completed in 1880, depicts two young figures caught in a sudden downpour. The large canvas, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases the artist's academic style and his ability to render dynamic movement and drapery. It was a notable work when first exhibited, drawing attention to its romantic and narrative qualities.
History & Provenance
The Storm was commissioned directly from Pierre Auguste Cot in 1880 by Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, a prominent New York collector. Her cousin, John Wolfe, who was a significant supporter of Cot's work, advised her on the acquisition. Following its creation, the painting remained in Catharine Lorillard Wolfe's private collection until she bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been a part of the permanent collection since.
Context
The painting made its public debut at the prestigious Paris Salon of 1880, an important annual exhibition for artists to gain recognition. Its romantic subject matter and academic execution resonated with contemporary audiences. The critical discussion surrounding its potential literary inspirations, whether from ancient Greek romance or a more recent French novel, indicates its engagement with popular cultural themes and storytelling traditions of the era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre Auguste Cot was born on February 17, 1837, in Bédarieux, a small town in the Hérault region of southern France.
