Artwork
Le Paradis et la Peri
Le Paradis et la Peri is a print by the Impressionist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Henri Fantin‑Latour’s 1884 print *Le Paradis et la Peri* is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. Known primarily for his floral studies and group portraits of Parisian cultural figures, Fantin‑Latour turned to mythic subject matter in this work, presenting a solitary, winged figure amid a turbulent landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a kneeling, winged being with flowing hair and outstretched arms, gazing downward at an unseen point. The figure’s posture and the storm‑laden backdrop suggest a moment of supplication or revelation, evoking themes of transcendence and the tension between the celestial and the earthly.
Technique & Style
Fantin‑Latour employs loose, sketch‑like lines to render the wings and drapery, imparting a sense of movement and ethereality. The figure appears almost translucent against a heavily textured, dark sky, a visual contrast achieved through softened edges that recall the sfumato technique, blurring the boundary between form and atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created in 1884, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (date of acquisition not specified). It represents a later period in Fantin‑Latour’s career, when he explored printmaking alongside his more familiar oil paintings, expanding his repertoire beyond portraiture and still life.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation: ; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
