Artwork
Charity (La charite)
Charity (La charite) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Alphonse Legros created Charity (La charité) in 1874, an etching that exemplifies his contribution to the revival of the medium in Britain.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a scene of charitable giving, featuring an elderly man receiving aid from two women in simple robes, conveying a sense of hardship and compassion.
Technique & Style
Legros employed quick, scratchy lines to convey texture and emotion, characteristic of the Romantic era's focus on realism and the struggles of everyday life.
History & Provenance
Legros, a French-born artist who became a British citizen, produced Charity (La charité) after settling in London in 1863, where he played a significant role in promoting etching through his teaching and artistic practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
Beggars Receiving Alms at the Door of a House
Beggars Receiving Alms at the Door of a House
Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the Door of M. Richard (St. Pierre et St. Paul a la porte de M. Richard
Beggars Receiving Alms at the Door of a House
Street Vendor Selling Spectacles at the Door
Woman at a Door Hatch Talking to a Man and Children (The Schoolmaster)
Beggars of Brussels (Les mendiants de Bruges)
The Young Innkeeper
Jews in the Synagogue
Beggar (Le mendiant)
St. Pierre et St. Paul à la porte de M. Richard
Charity (La Charité)