Dramatic Scene with Monks in a Crypt
The Met
Artist: Alexandre Evariste Fragonard(French, Grasse 1780–1850 Paris)
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 28 5/8 x 35 7/8 in. (72.7 x 91.1 cm)
Credit Line: The Whitney Collection, Gift of Wheelock Whitney III, and Purchase, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. McVeigh, by exchange, 2003
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Robed figures gather around an open pit, others carry a figure on a stretcher
Detailed Description
An ornate, dimly lit interior scene is filled with numerous robed figures. The overall color palette features muted browns, grays, and ochres, with areas of deep shadow. In the foreground on the left, a large, dark, rectangular object leans diagonally against a wall. Below it, a robed figure lies on the ground, partially obscured. Another bearded figure kneels and points into an open rectangular pit in the floor, next to a small, dark vessel. Towards the center, a bald figure in a light brown robe stands with both arms raised and open, facing towards the right. Behind this figure, another sits on a stone bench. The background wall features ornate architectural details, including carved figures in niches and decorative columns. High on the wall, a framed, rectangular painting with a blue-green background depicts a stylized figure with a halo. Below the painting, a sword with a red ribbon tied to its hilt is suspended horizontally. On the right side of the scene, several robed figures are present. Two figures in light gray robes carry a stretcher bearing a prone, robed figure. Another bald and bearded figure stands behind them, holding a staff. In the darker background on the far right, a crowd of additional robed figures is visible, partially obscured by shadow. Light appears to originate from the upper left, casting strong shadows and highlighting the central figures.
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