Artwork
Study for “Saltimbanques Resting”
Study for “Saltimbanques Resting” is an oil painting by the Realist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of The Phillips Collection.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1866, this oil study by Honoré Daumier serves as a preparatory work for his larger composition titled “Saltimbanques Resting.” The canvas is part of the collection of the Norton Simon Museum, where it is displayed as an example of Daumier’s interest in everyday subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows three male figures seated together in a moment of quiet repose. The central figure, clad in a red garment, draws the eye, while the companion on the right wears a white shirt and the figure on the left is depicted without a shirt, suggesting a range of social or occupational statuses within the group.
Technique & Style
Daumier employs a strong chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and shadow to model the bodies and give them a three‑dimensional presence. The handling of paint emphasizes volume and creates a subtle focal hierarchy that guides the viewer toward the red‑clad figure.
History & Provenance
After its execution, the study entered private hands before being acquired by the Norton Simon Museum, where it has remained on view as part of the institution’s European painting holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.
