Artwork
La casta Susana en el baño
La casta Susana en el baño is an oil painting by the Realist artist Eusebi Valldeperes. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Eusebi Valldeperes’ oil work from 1865, titled *La casta Susana en el baño*, is part of the collection at Madrid’s Museo del Prado. The canvas presents a solitary nude figure set within a verdant outdoor space, rendered with a calm, contemplative tone.
Subject & Meaning
A braid crowns her head, accented by a red ribbon, while a white cloth lies across the platform and a red drapery appears behind her.
The central figure is a woman standing on a stone platform, her left leg folded and right leg extended. She rests her left arm on the stone and bends her right elbow, hand touching the surface. A braid crowns her head, accented by a red ribbon, while a white cloth lies across the platform and a red drapery appears behind her. A concealed figure glimpses from behind a tree, introducing an element of quiet intrigue.
Technique & Style
Valldeperes employs chiaroscuro to model the nude’s form against the surrounding foliage, creating a subtle contrast between illuminated flesh and shadowed vegetation. The brushwork is smooth, allowing the draped fabrics and natural textures to be distinguished without disrupting the overall serenity of the scene.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1865, the painting entered the Museo del Prado’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent 19th‑century Spanish painters and to preserve works that explore classical themes within a realist framework.
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