A Pious Breton Community in Prayer Before an Altar
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Catalogue Number:
01
Artist:
Frederick Barnard (1846-1896)
Title:
A Pious Breton Community in Prayer Before an Altar
Work Type:
Drawing
Date:
19th Century
Culture:
British
Medium:
Charcoal with white chalk on gray paper
Dimensions:
12 3/4 X 9 3/4 in.
Inscriptions & Annotations:
Monogrammed FB (charcoal); Mount inscribed Frederick Barnard; English / Praying Peasants – Signed / ? – Flemish – 19th / Au Salut des Blessées (graphite) and Frederick Barnard (ink); Verso: Annotated 17 (graphite)
Condition:
Clean, intact, stable
Credit Line:
Cornell College, Gift of Robert Sonnenschein II
Accession Year:
1951
Object Number:
1951.01
Commentary:
Frederick Barnard (1846-1896) was a London based cartoonist who drew for magazines, such as Punch and The Illustrated London News. Some of his drawings have been associated with political satire, but he was also known for re-illustrating infamous household novels, including John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) and various works by Charles Dickens.
This drawing depicts several Breton figures kneeling before an altar with the crucified Jesus. A saintly figure appears behind the altar bearing a large cross against their shoulder. The back of the mount is inscribed with the phrase, “Au Salut de Blessées,” which roughly translates to “for the salvation of the wounded.” Around the French revolution, many Breton lost their lives in battle fighting for independence.
Although this drawing could not be connected to a printed work of Barnard’s, it bears his monogram boldly in the bottom right corner. However, it has been drawn backwards. Perhaps this drawing was in preparation of its printing, but the intended composition was not adequate for the publisher and it was stored away to be collected in the future. JM and CMP