Artwork
Reading of the Office of the Day (La lecture de l'office)
Reading of the Office of the Day (La lecture de l'office) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Alphonse Legros produced the drypoint print *Reading of the Office of the Day* in 1868. Executed after his relocation to London, the work belongs to the period when Legros was establishing himself as a versatile artist in painting, printmaking, sculpture and medal work. The image presents a solitary figure engaged in a moment of quiet devotion.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a bald man in a dark robe, his hands clasped as he leans over an open book. The posture and the illuminated page suggest a ritual of prayerful reading, likely a liturgical office, underscoring themes of contemplation and religious duty.
Technique & Style
Legros employed the drypoint method, incising the design with a sharp needle to create fine, scratchy lines that render the folds of the robe and the texture of the manuscript. Stark contrasts of light and shadow—chiaroscuro—highlight the figure against a dim interior, while a cross‑shaped window grille admits a narrow beam of illumination.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after Legros settled in London and before he obtained British citizenship, the print reflects his early British period. He later taught at the Royal Academy, where his advocacy helped revive etching in the United Kingdom. The work remains documented in collections that trace his influence on 19th‑century British printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
