Guy de Compiegne has published in 2013 a remarkable essay, Nicolas Poussin and the Japanese garden Masters. In his latest book available mid-March 2015, “Nicolas Poussin, l’ambiguité recherchée” (Nicolas Poussin, in search for ambiguity), the architect and Poussin researcher continues his quest through an interpretation of ambiguous details requiring the reconsideration of the primary subject. As we … Continue reading An interview with Guy de Compiegne for his new essay on Poussin
Tag: louvre
Mars and Venus, a new painting by Poussin at the Louvre!
Pierre Rosenberg announces the discovery of a new painting by Nicolas Poussin at the Louvre Museum “I found a new Poussin at the Louvre, a Poussin from Louis XIV collections.” [translated] The former CEO of the Louvre Museum has just announced, during an interview to The Art tribune, that he has authenticated a painting acquired … Continue reading Mars and Venus, a new painting by Poussin at the Louvre!
A Louvre exhibition on Nicolas Poussin in 2015
Jean-Luc Martinez, the new director of the Louvre, has decided to replace the Velasquez exhibition planned for 2015 by an exhibition on Nicolas Poussin, of which the Louvre owns a great number of works. For the record, the last great exhibition dedicated to Poussin took place in Paris in 1994, at the Grand Palais. And … Continue reading A Louvre exhibition on Nicolas Poussin in 2015
Eliezer and Rebecca – painted for Pointel (1648)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 118 x 197 cm, painted in 1648 for Pointel, a merchant from Paris whose collection primarily comprised paintings by Poussin. The canvas later became part of the collection of the Duke of Richelieu and was acquired by Louis XIV in 1665. There are … Continue reading Eliezer and Rebecca – painted for Pointel (1648)
The Arcadian Shepherds or Et In Arcadia Ego (circa 1640)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 85 x 121 cm Poussin painted this subject twice; this is the second version, more austere, which still relates to the discovery of a tomb on which is engraved with the epitaph “Et in Arcadia Ego” in the wilderness by shepherds. It is subject … Continue reading The Arcadian Shepherds or Et In Arcadia Ego (circa 1640)
The ecstasy of Saint Paul – painted for Paul Scarron (1649-1650)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 148 x 120 cm Details of the painting: Paul Scarron (1610-1660), the famous hunchback poet, creator of the burlesque genre in France, who had a certain reputation and was linked to a popular luxury “salon”, commissioned Nicolas Poussin to do a canvas … Continue reading The ecstasy of Saint Paul – painted for Paul Scarron (1649-1650)
The Death of Sapphira (circa 1652)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 122 x 199 cm For Jacques Thuillier this painting is “one of the finest works of the 1650’s ; the staging uses a fully theatrical point of view, while providing admirable atmospheric effects on the distance animated with small characters.” [translated] Details of the painting: … Continue reading The Death of Sapphira (circa 1652)
The Plague at Ashdod (1630 – 1631)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 148 x 198 cm Details of the work:
The Judgement of Solomon (1649)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 101 x 150 cm, painted for Pointel Below are details of the work:
The Four Seasons or The course of History – painted for the Duke of Richelieu (1660-1664)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 16 Les Quatre Saisons constitutes a synthesis of Poussin’s late style: in a setting emphasising the beauty of nature, the theme of the succession of the seasons merges with that of hours, periods of human life; the biblical narrative combines with classical mythology in a synthesis between … Continue reading The Four Seasons or The course of History – painted for the Duke of Richelieu (1660-1664)
Spring or The Earthly Paradise – painted for the 2d Duke of Richelieu (1660-1664)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor, room 16 Oil on canvas, 117 x 160 cm According to Félibien, this canvas was painted for the Duke of Richelieu (nephew of the cardinal) between 1660 and 1664. Also called Le Paradis terrestre (The Earthly Paradise) or Adam et Ève dans le Paradis terrestre (Adam and Eve … Continue reading Spring or The Earthly Paradise – painted for the 2d Duke of Richelieu (1660-1664)
Summer or Ruth and Boaz (1660-1664)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 16 Oil on canvas, 119 x 160 cm Below are details of the work: Summer or Ruth and Boaz is part of The Four Seasons series:
Autumn or The Spies with the Grapes of the Promised Land (1660-1664)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 16 Oil on canvas, 117 x 160 cm Details of the painting: Autumn or The Spies with the Grapes of the Promised Land is part of The Four Seasons series:
Winter or The Flood – painted for the Duke of Richelieu (1660-1664)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor, room 16 Oil on canvas, 118 x 160 cm Below are details of the work: Winter or The Flood is part of The Four Seasons series: “Men of genius have often announced their exit by means of chefs-d’oeuvres” L’Hiver (Winter) is part of the Four Seasons … Continue reading Winter or The Flood – painted for the Duke of Richelieu (1660-1664)
Landscape with Diogenes (circa 1657)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas , 160 x 221 cm Among the most majestic landscapes of the 17th century For Pierre Rosenberg « The work is among the most majestic landscapes of the XVIIth century. The beauty and variety of blues and greens, the masterly layering of the planes, the … Continue reading Landscape with Diogenes (circa 1657)
Echo and Narcissus (circa 1630)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 13 Oil on canvas, 74 x 100 cm Details of the painting:
Jesus Christ instituting the Eucharist (1641)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 17 Oil on canvas, 325 x 250 cm, ordered in 1641 by Louis XIII himself for the altarpiece of the chapel of Château-Vieux at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Time protecting Truth from the attacks of Envy and Discord (1641)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 17 Oil on canvas, diam. 297 cm, ordered by Richelieu for the Grand Cabinet of his palace. The painting, in room 17:
The Miracle of Saint Francis Xavier (1641)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 17 Also known as Saint Francis Xavier bringing back to life the daughter of an inhabitant of Cangoxima in Japan Oil on canvas, 444 x 243 cm, ordered by Sublet de Noyers for the altarpiece of the jesuits novitiate.
The triumph of Flora (circa 1627-1628)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 13 Oil on canvas, 165 x 241 cm Details of the work:
The Inspiration of the poet (circa 1629-1630)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 12 Oil on canvas, 184 x 214 cm Details of the work:
Appearance of the Virgin to James the Greater (circa 1629-1630)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 12 Oil on canvas, 301 x 242 cm Below a detail of the work:
Apollo in love with Daphne (1664)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 155 x 200 cm Below are details of the painting : Bellori‘s description of the work: “Apollo’s love came from a quarrel with Cupid, which of them would win in the use of the bow? Apollo is seated and, already hit … Continue reading Apollo in love with Daphne (1664)
Self-portrait at The Louvre – painted for Paul Fréart de Chantelou (1650)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 98 x 74 cm Poussin painted two self-portraits in the same year, one for Jean Pointel, which is now kept at the Gemäldegalerie of Berlin, the other – which set the image of Poussin for posterity – for Paul Fréart de Chantelou, a friend … Continue reading Self-portrait at The Louvre – painted for Paul Fréart de Chantelou (1650)
Bacchanal with Guitar Player or The Great Bacchanal (circa 1627-1628)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 13 Oil on canvas, 121 x 175 cm Read the study by Guy de Compiegne on the composition of this painting (in French) Below are details of the work:
The Infancy of Bacchus, also know as The Little Bacchanal (circa 1624-1625)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 13 Details of the work:
Saint Frances of Rome (circa 1657)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 121 x 102 cm Details of the painting:
Concert of Loves (circa 1626-1627)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 13 Oil on canvas, 57 x 51 cm. Left part of a painting divided after 1764. The right part, with Venus and Mercury, belongs today to the Dulwich College London. Below are details of the painting:
The Holy Family with Saint John and Saint Elizabeth against a landscape (circa 1650)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 94 x 122 cm
Saint John baptising the People (circa 1635-1637)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 94 x 120 cm. The painting belonged to à André Le Nôtre. Details of the work:
Moses saved from the water (1647)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 121 x 195 cm, painted for Pointel
Moses turning Aaron’s rod into a snake (circa 1645-1648)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 92 x 128 cm Details of the work: An engraving of the painting:
Landscape with Orpheus and Eurydice (1650-1653)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor Oil on canvas, 124 x 200 cm, collection of Louis XIV The subject is taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Eurydice has just been killed by a snake, on the exact same day as her wedding to Orpheus, but he is playing the lyre, not having noticed this accident causing … Continue reading Landscape with Orpheus and Eurydice (1650-1653)
The Abduction of the Sabine Women – painted for Cardinal Luigi Omodei (1637-1638)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2d floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 159 x 206 cm The subject, taken from Plutarch’s life of Romulus, illustrates the moment when the Romans seize the Sabine women in order to take them for their wives. Details of the painting: A previous version of this composition, The … Continue reading The Abduction of the Sabine Women – painted for Cardinal Luigi Omodei (1637-1638)
The Israelites gathering the Manna in the desert – painted for Chantelou (1637-1639)
The Louvre Museum, Richelieu wing, 2nd floor, room 14 Oil on canvas, 149 x 200 cm, completed in 1639 for Chantelou. Subject drawn from the story of Moses. Details of the work: Below is an analysis (in French) of the painting provided by the CED (requires the flash plugin):
Nicolas Poussin – Louvre Museum, PARIS 1960
Collective work – Published by Edition des Musées Nationaux, 1960 Exhibition catalogue (by Anthony Blunt) Dear Director General, I have the honour of sending you the attached samples from the exhibition catalogue which the Painting Department is dedicating this year to one of the less popular of the grand masters, in France at least, Nicolas … Continue reading Nicolas Poussin – Louvre Museum, PARIS 1960
Nicolas Poussin – St Françoise of Rome
Marc Fumaroli Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2001 In 1657 Nicolas Poussin painted a shrine commissioned by Bishop Rospigliosi. The shrine was to give thanks to St Françoise of Rome, protector of Rome, for the end of a plague epidemic which had recently ravaged the city. Who else but Poussin could have given such dramatic tension, … Continue reading Nicolas Poussin – St Françoise of Rome
Pierre ROSENBERG (1936)
Pierre Rosenberg is a curator, historian of French art, and since 1995, an academic. Louvre President-Director from 1994 to 2001, specialising in the drawings and paintings of the French and Italian seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, he is recognised as a leading expert on Nicolas Poussin. Further reading: • Biography of Pierre Rosenberg on the website … Continue reading Pierre ROSENBERG (1936)