Art Analyisis Of JOAN OF ARC By

Jules Bastien Lepage Essay, Research Paper

?Joan of Arc,? was painted by the French realist

artist Jules Bastien-Lepage in 1879. ?After the

province of Lorraine was lost to Germany following

the Franco-Prussian War in 1821, The Frenchmen saw

in Joan of Arc a new and powerful symbol. In

1875, Bastien-Lepage, a native of Lorraine began

to make studies for a picture of her. In the

present painting, exhibited in the Salon of 1880,

Joan is shown receiving her revelation in her

parents garden. Behind her are Saints Michael,

Margaret, and Catherine. (Caption next to

painting in The Metropolitan)?

Jules Bastien-Lepage creates a realistic

atmosphere, including a supernatural,

religious-like presence within his painting. Oil

on canvas was used to create the realistic quality

of the work. By closely examining the artist?s

technique, it is clear that he uses delicate brush

strokes in a true to life manner. The colors, and

use of light seem to be painted in a layered

fashion to give the landscape a sense of depth.

The background of the painting is a garden which

include foliage and brush that surrounds the

primary focus of the painting, Joan of Arc. The

artist put a great effort into the details of the

scene. Bastien-Lepage uses a distinct realistic

quality in his painting which is visible in each

individual leaf and branch. Various hues of earth

tones, green and brown being the most evident, are

blended together in the garden scene.

In the foreground of the painting is Joan of Arc.

She is painted with a seemingly thicker paint

technique. This makes her a more easily visible

aspect in the painting, and catches the onlookers

eye. Joan is dressed in a long brown skirt and

blue-gray shirt with white underneath which is

the typical clothing style of the 19th century.

The clothing is painted to show its wear and tear.

Her features and her figure are quite realistic.

She seems to have a calm, but troubled expression

on her face, as though she is deep in thought.

Overall she is painted in a very detailed manner.

A less visible, yet still present and important

aspect of the painting are the three figures

positioned behind Joan, and in front of the house.

The figures are somewhat transparent, and ghostly.

Their presence adds a spiritual and or religious

feeling to the scene. These three figures

presence blends into the scenery. Al three have

halos above their heads, and serene looks on

their faces.

The saint on the right is dressed in what looks

to be armor. He looks brave, and as if he is

standing guard or going into battle. The middle

saint is a praying angel. She is in a dress with

a gauzy, white presence around her. This

whiteness gives her an ethereal quality which

Bastien-Lepage has painted quite effectively, and

adds to the spiritual feeling of the scene. Her

presence in the painting seems to represent

chastity and virtue. The last figure looks like a

young girl or child, who is kneeling with her face

hidden in her hands almost as if she is upset.

Perhaps Bastien-Lepage painted these three saints

not only to illustrate Joan receiving her visions,

but to illustrate the bravery, religious yet

childlike figure that she was.

Behind Joan of Arc, in the background of the

picture is a house. Bastien-Lepage painted the

house so that the masonry is visible. The house

seems to be small in size, plain, and quaint.

Surrounding the house is shrubbery, trees, and

more of the garden which is seen throughout the

painting.

This painting of Joan of Arc is very

significant. Bastien-Lepage is able to effectively

depict Joan as the true heroine that she was.