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'''''The Storm''''' is a painting by French artist [[Pierre Auguste Cot]], completed in 1883. Currently on display at New York's [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], the painting was commissioned from the artist in 1880 by [[Catharine Lorillard Wolfe]] under the guidance of her cousin John Wolfe, one of Cot's principal patrons.
'''''The Storm''''' is a painting by French artist [[Pierre Auguste Cot]], completed in 1883. Currently on display at New York's [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], the painting was commissioned from the artist in 1880 by [[Catharine Lorillard Wolfe]] under the guidance of her cousin John Wolfe, one of Cot's principal patrons.


Though long regarded as a symbol of late nineteenth century [[Academic art|academicism]], The Storm, even today, continues to attract a litany of caustic attacks.
Though long regarded as a symbol of late nineteenth century [[Academic art|academicism]], ''The Storm'', even today, continues to attract a litany of caustic attacks.


==Theme and elements==
==Theme and elements==
The painting is reminiscent of an earlier work, ''Spring'', which was completed by Cot in 1873. This painting was subsequently acquired by John Wolfe after it was displayed with astounding success at the [[Salon (Paris)|Salon of 1873]]. It is believed that the presence of ''Spring'' in Wolfe's collection was the impetus that drove his cousin, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, to purchase ''The Storm '' in 1880. Both paintings are of roughly the same dimensions and are evidently related in subject in the sense that both portray a young, nubile couple. It is from this therefore, that the two paintings are thought to form a symbiotic pair, where the success of the earlier work led to the creation of the latter<ref>The original ''Spring'' measured 82×49 inches; David C. Lyall sale (New York, 1903). For the Wolfe family connection see ''The Collector 5'' (1894) p. 103</ref>.
The painting is reminiscent of an earlier work, ''Spring'', which was completed by Cot in 1873. This painting was subsequently acquired by John Wolfe after it was displayed with astounding success at the [[Salon (Paris)|Salon of 1873]]. It is believed that the presence of ''Spring'' in Wolfe's collection was the impetus that drove his cousin, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, to purchase ''The Storm '' in 1880. Both paintings are of roughly the same dimensions and are evidently related in subject in the sense that both portray a young, nubile couple. It is from this therefore, that the two paintings are thought to form a symbiotic pair, where the success of the earlier work led to the creation of the latter<ref>The original ''Spring'' measured 82×49 inches; David C. Lyall sale (New York, 1903). For the Wolfe family connection see ''The Collector 5'' (1894) p. 103</ref>.


When it was first exhibited at the Salon in 1880, there was much speculation amongst Cot's comtemporaries as to the subject the painter meant to allude to - with some drawing reference to the story [[Paul et Virginie]], first published by [[Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre|Bernardin de Saint-Pierre]] in 1788, and others to the fourth century romance [[Daphnis and Chloe]] by the Greek writer [[Longus]]<ref>''French Paintings: A Catalogue of the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art'' (New York, 1966) II, p. 194</ref><ref>''Catalogue generald es livres imprimisd e la Bibliotheque Nationale''</ref>.
When it was first exhibited at the Salon in 1880, there was much speculation amongst Cot's comtemporaries as to the subject the painter meant to allude to - with some drawing reference to the story [[Paul et Virginie]], first published by [[Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre|Bernardin de Saint-Pierre]] in 1788, and others to the fourth century romance [[Daphnis and Chloe]] by the Hellene writer [[Longus]]<ref>''French Paintings: A Catalogue of the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art'' (New York, 1966) II, p. 194</ref><ref>''Catalogue generald es livres imprimisd e la Bibliotheque Nationale''</ref>. Evidence for the first interpretation comes from the specific motif of the couple running from the rain and covered by a billowing drapery corresponding to a famous and often illutrated scene in Paul et Virginie:
{{cquote|One day, while descending from the mountaintop, I saw Virginie running from one end of the garden toward the house, her head covered by her overskirt, which she had lifted from behind her in order to gain shelter from a rain-shower. From a distance I had thought she was alone; but upon coming closer to help her walk I saw that by the arm she held Paul who was almost entirely covered by the same blanket. Both were laughing together in the shelter of this umbrella of their own invention.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=pITX7REaR9QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Paul+et+Virginie&hl=en&ei=LNeFTOnAOISClAexxIGsDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, "Paul et Virginie"]</ref>}}


==References==
==References==
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[[Category: 1883 paintings]]
[[Category: 1883 paintings]]
[[Category: Academic art]]
[[Category: French art]]
[[Category: French art]]
[[Category: French paintings]]
[[Category: French paintings]]

Revision as of 06:53, 7 September 2010

Template:Other uses2

The Storm
ArtistPierre Auguste Cot
Year1837–1883
TypeOil on canvas
LocationMetropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Storm is a painting by French artist Pierre Auguste Cot, completed in 1883. Currently on display at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the painting was commissioned from the artist in 1880 by Catharine Lorillard Wolfe under the guidance of her cousin John Wolfe, one of Cot's principal patrons.

Though long regarded as a symbol of late nineteenth century academicism, The Storm, even today, continues to attract a litany of caustic attacks.

Theme and elements

The painting is reminiscent of an earlier work, Spring, which was completed by Cot in 1873. This painting was subsequently acquired by John Wolfe after it was displayed with astounding success at the Salon of 1873. It is believed that the presence of Spring in Wolfe's collection was the impetus that drove his cousin, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, to purchase The Storm in 1880. Both paintings are of roughly the same dimensions and are evidently related in subject in the sense that both portray a young, nubile couple. It is from this therefore, that the two paintings are thought to form a symbiotic pair, where the success of the earlier work led to the creation of the latter[1].

When it was first exhibited at the Salon in 1880, there was much speculation amongst Cot's comtemporaries as to the subject the painter meant to allude to - with some drawing reference to the story Paul et Virginie, first published by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre in 1788, and others to the fourth century romance Daphnis and Chloe by the Hellene writer Longus[2][3]. Evidence for the first interpretation comes from the specific motif of the couple running from the rain and covered by a billowing drapery corresponding to a famous and often illutrated scene in Paul et Virginie:

One day, while descending from the mountaintop, I saw Virginie running from one end of the garden toward the house, her head covered by her overskirt, which she had lifted from behind her in order to gain shelter from a rain-shower. From a distance I had thought she was alone; but upon coming closer to help her walk I saw that by the arm she held Paul who was almost entirely covered by the same blanket. Both were laughing together in the shelter of this umbrella of their own invention.[4]

References

  1. ^ The original Spring measured 82×49 inches; David C. Lyall sale (New York, 1903). For the Wolfe family connection see The Collector 5 (1894) p. 103
  2. ^ French Paintings: A Catalogue of the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, 1966) II, p. 194
  3. ^ Catalogue generald es livres imprimisd e la Bibliotheque Nationale
  4. ^ Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, "Paul et Virginie"