Joan of Arc was a popular figure in French history and is known throughout the world for her bravery. She is often chosen as the subject matter for artworks celebrating her honor, one of which was the Joan of Arc (1879) painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage, which this article will discuss further.
Table of Contents
Artist Abstract: Who Was Jules Bastien-Lepage?
Jules Bastien-Lepage was born on November 1, 1848, and lived until December 10, 1884. He was a French artist from Damvillers in Meuse in France and reportedly enjoyed art from a young age and learned from his father, who was also an artist. He went on to study at Verdun and then at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, becoming known as one of the leading artists of Naturalism with a large focus on portraits and landscapes, and notably rural depictions often portraying peasants. Some of his artworks include Haymaking (Les Foins) (1877), October (1878), and Young Girl (1881).
Self Portrait (c 1880) by Jules Bastien-Lepage; Jules Bastien-Lepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage in Context
The Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage is an oil painting that tells a historical tale, not necessarily just one, but two. The contextual analysis below will explore this in more detail, followed by a formal analysis looking at the artistic composition and subject matter.
| Artist | Jules Bastien-Lepage (1848 – 1884) |
| Date Painted | 1879 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Genre | Genre/History painting |
| Period / Movement | Naturalism |
| Dimensions (cm) | 254 x 279.4 |
| Series / Versions | N/A |
| Where Is It Housed? | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET), New York City, United States |
| What It Is Worth | Sold for $4,000 in 1880, and then $23,700 in 1889 |
Contextual Analysis: A Brief Socio-Historical Overview
There are two historical events depicted in the Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage, one of which we can see and the other alluded to, the latter ties in with the events that took place when Bastien-LePage painted it, but first, let us explore who Joan of Arc was (if you are not already familiar with her).
Considered a “heroine”, “saint”, and “martyr”, Joan of Arc was born in Domrémy in France, her birth year believed to be 1412. She lived during the Hundred Years’ War, which was between France and England. Both countries were in a prolonged tug of war for power that eventually culminated in France’s victory. When Joan of Arc was a teenager, around 13 years of age, she reportedly experienced visions and heard voices from God, instructing her to be a part of leading what was known as the Siege of Orléans.
Many sources relay that Joan of Arc experienced these voices in her garden and that they belonged to Saint Margaret, Saint Michael (known also as the Archangel Michael), and Saint Catherine.
She was accused of various crimes after the events and burned at the stake, and although it cost her life, Joan of Arc’s role was that of a visionary and catalyst for change within the war between her home country and England. The Franco-Prussian War, which was from 1870 to 1871, reportedly caused a resurgence of the ideals that Joan of Arc represented.
As France lost to Germany, Joan of Arc became a “symbol of Nationalism”, which could be one of the inspirations of why Jules Bastien-Lepage painted Joan of Arc in 1879.
Formal Analysis: A Brief Compositional Overview
The formal analysis below will reveal more about the subject matter of the Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage and some of the stylistic details according to the elements and principles of art.
Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage; Jules Bastien-Lepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Subject Matter: Visual Description
The Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage depicts the figure of Joan of Arc to the right, situated more toward the foreground. Her head is tilted to her left (our right), and she stares into space, as if in deep concentration. Interestingly, the artist’s cousin Marie-Adèle Robert was the model for the figure of Joan of Arc.
Her left arm (our right) is outstretched to her side and her left hand appears to be holding on to a part of a tree; her right arm is hanging at her side. Part of her feet are visible from her long skirt, what appears to be her left foot and her toes appear to be curling and clenched into the earth beneath it.
Her body position indicates that she is in the process of experiencing the vision and voices that have come to identify her historical and heroic tale.
The surroundings depict a garden area with a house in the background to the left. Interestingly, reportedly Bastien-Lepage depicted his family’s garden. To the left of the composition, and further into the background are a wool spinning wheel and a chair that has been knocked over, possibly while she was getting up as the vision occurred to her.
Also, in the left middle ground are three angelic figures, barely visible, in mid-air. These are the saints who visited Joan of Arc during her vision, namely Saint Michael to the right, who is offering Joan of Arc a sword, and to his right (our left) are the two saints Margaret and Catherine.
Color
The color scheme is composed mostly of neutral, earthy, and muted colors like whites, greens, and browns, the faded blue of Joan of Arc’s blouse, and the fine golds and whites of the saints to the left. There appears to be an unknown light source in the composition too, which seemingly provides an overall lighting effect around the composition.
Colors in Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage; Jules Bastien-Lepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Texture
Jules Bastien-Lepage was known for his naturalistic depictions, and in the St Joan of Arc painting, there are various textural details that imply the natural environment. Some of the textural contrasts include the tree bark’s rougher texture and the stony texture of the house in the background. These can be compared to the softer folds of Joan of Arc’s clothing and the ethereal appearance of the saints.
All the textures combine, providing the composition with its characteristic “photographic” or “realistic” qualities that have been widely attributed to Bastien-Lepage’s art style.
Close-up detail in Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage; Jules Bastien-Lepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Shape and Form
There are mostly organic forms in the Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage, and like the above-mentioned lines, there is also a subtle contrast between the geometric shape of the house in the background and the organic forms of the surrounding environment.
Close-up detail in Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage; Jules Bastien-Lepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Line
There are various types of lines implied in the Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage, for example, the vertical linearity of Joan’s standing figure and the tree next to her to the left, which is echoed by the three vertical tree branches to the right as well as from the spinning wheel’s structure just behind it.
Additionally, there are various other diagonal lines created by the surrounding foliage as well as more geometric lines from the house contrasting with the organic lines from the natural environment.
Echos of Line in Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage; Jules Bastien-Lepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Space
Jules Bastien-Lepage places Joan of Arc in the foreground and she appears in more detail compared to the background, which places the focus on her. Furthermore, some sources suggest that Jules Bastien-Lepage is an implied space beyond the composition by the path to the right and Joan of Arc’s left arm seemingly pointing to this path by it being outstretched thus also pointing to the deeper meaning of the narrative.
Space in Joan of Arc (1879) by Jules Bastien-Lepage; Jules Bastien-Lepage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A Heroine Between Two Worlds
This article discussed the St Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage in more detail, outlining who Joan of Arc was and when she lived, as well as the artist’s choice of subject matter, including the socio-political climate of when he lived. It also discussed the painting in more stylistic terms related to the art elements and principles.
Joan of Arc was considered a heroine for her bravery and leadership during the Hundred Years’ War, and although she was executed, she was immortalized, remaining a female figure that inspired the world. This painting is a naturalistic rendering of how our protagonist stands in the throes of what is asked of her and what she was to become – from spinning wool to visionary, and warrior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Is the Joan of Arc Painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage?
The Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It was bought by Erwin Davis in 1880 for $4,000, which was also the year it was exhibited at the Paris Salon.
What Style Is Jules Bastien-Lepage’s St Joan of Arc Painting?
Jules Bastien-Lepage was known for his so-called photographic art style and his paintings that were part of the Naturalism art movement. He was also considered one of the leading proponents of this style.
Why Is Jules Bastien-Lepage’s Joan of Arc Painting Different?
The Joan of Arc painting by Jules Bastien-Lepage has been described as so-called ironic. This is because of the artist’s naturalistic and realistic style and portrayal of the scene, but with the non-realistic subject matter of the saints.
