Artwork
The Arrest of Charlotte Corday
The Arrest of Charlotte Corday is an oil painting by Ary Scheffer. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Ary Scheffer’s oil painting *The Arrest of Charlotte Corday* portrays the instant after the revolutionary assassin’s capture.
Ary Scheffer’s oil painting *The Arrest of Charlotte Corday* portrays the instant after the revolutionary assassin’s capture. Set in a shadowy interior, a woman in a pale blue dress stands at the centre, restrained by two men while a small crowd of onlookers reacts with a mixture of anger and concern. The composition captures a moment of heightened tension within the French Revolutionary narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on Charlotte Corday, the young woman who assassinated journalist Jean‑Paul Marat in 1793. By depicting her calm demeanor amid the surrounding turmoil, Scheffer suggests a contrast between personal resolve and the chaotic forces of the Revolution, inviting reflection on individual agency in a period of political upheaval.
Technique & Style
Scheffer employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, allowing the illuminated central figure to emerge from a darkened room with a brown floor. The interplay of light and shadow creates depth and accentuates emotional intensity, while the loose brushwork and Romantic sensibility convey drama rather than strict historic detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1900, the painting reflects Scheffer’s lifelong interest in literary and historical subjects. Though the artist enjoyed patronage from King Louis‑Philippe I and lived comfortably until the 1848 Revolution, this later work revisits the earlier revolutionary era, linking his personal history with the broader French narrative.
Context
Scheffer, a Dutch‑French Romantic painter, frequently turned to episodes from French history and literature for inspiration. *The Arrest of Charlotte Corday* aligns with his broader oeuvre, which includes religious scenes and portraits of notable contemporaries, illustrating his engagement with the moral and political questions of his time.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ary Scheffer (10 February 1795 – 15 June 1858) was a Dutch-French Romantic painter.
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