The Sacrament of the Ordination, a brilliant and grand Baroque masterpiece after the original by Nicolas Poussin’s (1594 – 1665)

DESCRIPTION

The Sacrament of Ordination is a facsimile reproduction of the French Baroque artist Nicolas Poussin’s (1594 – 1665) work of the same subject, which was originally part of a series of seven works depicting the seven sacraments. The artist remains unknown, at present, however, it is a close contemporary copy of Poussin’s work which is evident from a number of factors including the technical preparation of the canvas which is still original as well as stylistic elements of the work which are consistent with trends during this time period. It is also important to note that, since Poussin did not have a workshop, it is more likely that this work was commissioned by a patron of the arts rather than being produced as a teaching exercise by a student. In fact, during the Baroque period in particular, copies were usually commissioned by patrons who were well informed about 'contemporary' art; particularly those who wanted to show off their knowledge of current trends by commissioning reproductions of such important works of art. A working theory of how the work was copied can be ascertained through a comparative analysis between the copy, Poussin’s original and a reproductive engraving by Jean Pesne. Through comparison of the three works one is inclined to believe that the copyist used Pesne’s engraving as a reference for his work of art.

This work includes a 15-page expertly written catalogue entry/valuation and would greatly benefit from a restoration intervention.