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The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul

John La Farge , 1903

The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul, by John La Farge, gouache, 1903
The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul, by John La Farge, gouache, 1903

The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul is a gouache work on paper by the American Impressionist artist John La Farge. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

It functions as a color study for a larger mural installed in the Supreme Court Room of the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul.

The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City; Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol, Saint Paul is a 1903 work by the American artist John La Farge. Executed in gouache, watercolor, and graphite on white wove paper, the piece measures 7 1/8 by 11 1/4 inches (18.1 by 28.6 cm). It functions as a color study for a larger mural installed in the Supreme Court Room of the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, accessioned under object number 67.55.169.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a historical moment of negotiation and oath-taking, centering on Count Raymond of Toulouse as he swears at an altar to respect the liberties of the city. The scene brings together various factions with competing claims: a bishop representing mixed ecclesiastical and temporal rights, representatives of religious orders guarding their property and religious liberty, and city representatives protecting civic freedoms from both secular and ecclesiastical encroachment. La Farge chose this southern French setting and specific historical moment to allow flexibility in the archaeological accuracy of the garments, while still capturing the broader theme of balancing opposing powers. The civic representatives look toward a future where they might counterbalance their immediate ruler against the sovereign power of the King.

History & Provenance

Created in 1903, the work served as a preparatory color study for La Farge's mural in the Minnesota State Capitol's Supreme Court Room in Saint Paul. The study eventually entered the collection of Susan Dwight Bliss, who bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1966. It was subsequently accessioned by the museum's American Wing department, where it remains today.

Context

John La Farge was a central figure in the American Renaissance, a period defined by a renewed interest in classical ideals, mural painting, and the integration of the arts with architecture. Active in painting, stained glass, and interior design, he held a patent for opalescent glass and famously collaborated with architect Henry Hobson Richardson on Trinity Church in Boston. His leadership in the field of mural painting was formalized by his tenure as President of the National Society of Mural Painters from 1899 to 1904. This 1903 study for the Minnesota State Capitol aligns with his broader intellectual and artistic focus on complex allegorical and historical themes, integrating architectural space with nuanced narrative meaning.

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Artist & collection

Portrait of John La Farge

Artist

John La Farge

John La Farge (March 31, 1835 – November 14, 1910) was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul?

The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul was painted by John La Farge in 1903.

Where can I see The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul?

The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul?

The Adjustment of Conflicting Interests: Count Raymond of Toulouse Swears at the Altar to Observe the Liberties of the City;ì Color Study for Mural, Supreme Court Room, Minnesota State Capitol,ì Saint Paul is associated with American Impressionism.