Seated Female Figure Seen from Behind, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes | Mia

A reversed study after the figure of Botany in the Allegory of the Sorbonne. — Seated Female Figure Seen from Behind, 1889
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
Pastel on paper
Gift of funds from J. Jerome Hill 67.65
Not on View
This pastel is a reduction after Puvis de Chavannes' Allegory of the Sorbonne mural from 1889. The large fresco is in the Grand Amphitheater at the University of the Sorbonne in Paris and is filled with figures that represent different academic disciplines and divisions within the university. This nude, for example, represents Botany, indicated by the flowers in her lap).

In this pastel, the artist has slightly reworked the painted figure so that the nude could stand as an independent work of art. Puvis de Chavannes often worked in pastel and his characteristic long, sweeping cross-hatches, directional strokes, and limited outlining are visible in this work.

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Details

Title: Seated Female Figure Seen from Behind
Dated: 1889
Artist: Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
Nationality: French
Artist Life: 1824 - 1898
Role: Artist
Gallery: Not on View
Department: European Art
Dimension: 51 3/8 x 30 1/2 in. (130.49 x 77.47 cm) (image)
Credit: Gift of funds from J. Jerome Hill
Accession Number: 67.65
Medium: Pastel on paper
Country: France
Century: 19th century
Provenance: [Durand-Ruel, Paris, until 1891; sold February 28, for $6,000, to Hill]; James J. Hill, St. Paul (from 1891-d.1916); his daughter, Charlotte Hill Slade, St. Paul (1916-d.1923); her grandson, G. Richard Slade, Mound, Minnesota (until 1967; sold to MIA)
Rights: Public Domain
Classification: Drawings
Object Name: Drawing
Wikipedia: Cite this information
Metadata: Click here to see the machine readable JSON data that underpins this page.
Curator Approved: This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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