In 1802 Granet went to Rome to study at the French Academy housed in the Villa Medici. Like a number of students, he had a studio in the convent of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti church next door. This experience may have been the inspiration for this painting. At the age of twenty seven he went to Rome where this picture was painted and stayed there for many years. When he settled again in France in 1826 he was made Curator of the Louvre and then Director at Versailles.

Although the room is austere and the mood of the principal characters earnest, the nun entering with refreshments in the background may be taken to indicate that the atmosphere is not joyless and that there will soon be relaxation and laughter.

His treatment of the subject creates an air of stiliness, calm and order. Note the Neo-classical tones of grey, green,

terracotta red, blue and yellow.

Provenance: bequeathed by the Founders, 1885

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: François Marius Granet (1775-1849)
Date: 1810

Image Details
Date: 7 Feb 2025
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 500
Licensing: Image of a Bowes Museum asset. This image cannot be licensed.