Artwork
The Mass of Saint Basil
The Mass of Saint Basil is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre Subleyras. It dates from 1746 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work measures 137 centimeters in height and 79 centimeters in width, presenting a religious narrative scene.
Created in 1746, The Mass of Saint Basil is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 137 centimeters in height and 79 centimeters in width, presenting a religious narrative scene. As a painting by Pierre Subleyras, the piece employs the formal qualities typical of mid-18th-century religious art, depicting figures including Saint Basil of Caesarea, the Emperor Valens, a woman, a man, and a putto.
The medium of oil on canvas allows for the detailed rendering of these subjects within the composition. The artwork is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The Mass of Saint Basil is an oil on canvas religious painting executed in 1746 by Pierre Subleyras. The painting measures 137 cm by 79 cm and portrays Saint Basil of Caesarea alongside the Emperor Valens and other figures including a woman, a man, and a putto. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's holdings and has remained in the museum's collection since its acquisition. The work's creation is dated to 1746, matching the artist's known activity during that period.
Overview
This oil painting, titled The Mass of Saint Basil, depicts a solemn religious ceremony within what appears to be a church setting. A central figure, robed in white, presides over a gathering, holding a golden chalice. The composition includes various figures, both earthly and celestial, contributing to a reverent atmosphere.
The work is characterized by its rich palette and a deliberate use of light to emphasize key elements of the sacred event.
Subject & Meaning
The painting centers on a white-robed individual, likely Saint Basil, performing a sacred ritual, indicated by the golden cup he holds. Attendants and onlookers surround him, while ethereal angels hover above and kneel in the background, suggesting a divine presence. This arrangement underscores the spiritual significance of the event, portraying a moment of religious devotion and communal worship within an ecclesiastical space.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre Subleyras (French:; November 25, 1699 – May 28, 1749) was a French painter, active during the late-Baroque and early-Neoclassic period, mainly in Italy.
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