19/8/22 – Acquisition – Boston, Museum of Fine Arts – American museums are still fond of large neoclassical paintings: after the Coriolanus by Girodet (see the news item of 1/11/19) and the Psyche de Benoist (see news item of 3/24/22) respectively purchased by Washington and San Francisco, The Magnanimity of Lycurguspresented to Salon of 1791 by Jean-Jacques François Le Barbier, known as Le Barbier l’Aîné, joined Boston. This beautiful composition (ill. 1) had made a remarkable reappearance at Christie’s in New York last fall, easily exceeding its high yet substantial estimate to finally be awarded hammer $850,000, or $1,050,000 with costs to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston [1].
- 1. Jean-Jacques François Le Barbier called The Barber the Elder (1738-1826)
The Magnanimity of Lycurgus1791
Oil on canvas – 130.2 x 170.7 cm
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts
Photo : Christie’s -
See the image in his page
Inspired by Lives of illustrious men by Plutarch, the episode is drawn from Greek history: Lycurgus, the mythical Spartan legislator, was destined to succeed his brother on the throne but when he realized that his widow was pregnant, he resisted the temptation to kill the child to come and retain power. As soon as his nephew was born, he had him proclaimed king: this is the moment represented in the center of the scene. The figure of Lycurgus also inspired Cochin and was certainly appreciated at the end of the 18th century; the episode of the newborn being also treated by Augustin Pajou then, later, by The day or Sew when the subject was submitted to the Prix de Rome competition in 1811, which was then won Abel de Pujol.
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- 2. Jean-Jacques François Le Barbier called The Barber the Elder (1738-1826)
The Magnanimity of Lycurgus1791
Oil on canvas – 37.5 x 45.5 cm
Blois, Castle Museum
Photo: Museum of the Château de Blois -
See the image in his page
The Barber carefully prepared his composition,…
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