Susanna Surprised in the Bath by the two Elders - Lagrenée
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Description
Booklet :
"By M. de La Grenée, professor.
31. Susanna surprised in the bath by the two Old Men. Painting 5 feet wide, by 4 feet high. "
Extraordinary of the Mercure de France, Sept. 63, p. 23 :
"We believe we owe particular attention to two Paintings, of the same size, by this Painter; they are among those which arrest the most glances & which gather the most suffrages. One depicts Susanna being surprised at the baths by the two Old Men, while the other shows the young Aurora leaving the bed of the old Triton. No expression could be more apt, more appropriate or more characteristic than that of Susanna's head in the first of these paintings. We can see the feeling of surprise and indignation; we can even see a principle of honesty superior to the slavish habit of prejudice. The design of this [24] Figure is of the best manner & of great intelligence. The Old Men form, as one can well imagine, a marked contrast with the Susanna, & the whole is of a beautiful accord of colors.
The Aurora painting is even more piquant & has something stronger than the previous one, not only in the expressions, but also in the coloring. It is unfortunate that the Author was probably compelled, by a given dimension, to restrain his scene in a space too small for the extent of his action, for the number & for the proportions of the Characters."
3. This painting is probably a counterpart to Aurora leaving the bed of old Triton, of the same dimensions and comparable subject, exhibited at the same Salon.
Technical Data
Notice #001027
