Artwork

The Death of Saint Louis

The Death of Saint Louis, by Ary Scheffer, unspecified, 1817
The Death of Saint Louis, by Ary Scheffer, unspecified, 1817

The Death of Saint Louis is an unspecified painting by Ary Scheffer. It dates from 1817 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Death of Saint Louis, painted in 1817 by Ary Scheffer, is a somber depiction of the final moments of Louis IX of France. The work is now part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting captures a mournful scene around the deceased Saint Louis, clad in white robes, with a grieving figure in yellow beside him. The gathering's sorrow and the seaside backdrop evoke a sense of solemn loss.

Technique & Style

While specific technical details are not highlighted, the emotional intensity and use of contrasting colors (notably the yellow dress against the predominantly somber tones) suggest Scheffer's Romantic inclination towards evoking deep feeling.

History & Provenance

Created in 1817 by Ary Scheffer, a painter with ties to the French monarchy (notably King Louis Philippe I), the painting's history reflects Scheffer's privileged position until the 1848 Revolution. It is now housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Context

Painted during Scheffer's period of royal connection, the work may reflect the artistic and religious sentiments of the pre-Revolution French elite, blending literary and religious themes characteristic of Scheffer's oeuvre.

Legacy

The painting's legacy is marked by its inclusion in a major museum collection, indicating its enduring relevance as a representation of 19th-century Romantic religious art, though its broader impact on the art historical canon is not explicitly defined by the available information.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Ary Scheffer

Artist

Ary Scheffer

Ary Scheffer (10 February 1795 – 15 June 1858) was a Dutch-French Romantic painter.