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Work belonging to a series of six paintings, commissioned by the Society of Jesus for the church of its Novitiate in Madrid, on the occasion of the canonization of Juan Francisco de Regis, the first French Jesuit raised to the altars, in 1737. The commission was carried out by Father Pierre Daubenton, confessor of Philip V.Knowledge of Houasse´s work was not limited to the palace environment
Michel-Ange Houasse, son of the painter René-Antoine Houasse (c.1645-1710), had enjoyed a long career during the reign of Louis XIV of France (r.1643-1715). From 1715 until his death, Michel-Ange worked in the court in Madrid during the reign of the first Bourbon monarch, Philip V (r.1700-24 and 1724-46), creating interesting landscape paintings, genre scenes, religious paintings and portra
This painting is part of a series of pictures of the Royal Sites which includes five panoramas of El Escorial from different viewpoints. They are all unmistakably descriptive in nature as the emphasis is on the overall views, each of which includes a couple of accessory details in order to humanise the theme, such as monks, passers-by, an oxcart or a pilgrim, among others. This panoramic view of e
Various personages, semi-nude or wearing tunics, dance, drink, eat grapes, play instruments and enjoy themselves in a garden around a bust of Bacchus. Various popular and classical buildings are visible in the background. This work shows all of the influences present in Houasse´s painting. The academicist tendency of the figures is mixed with hints of Poussin, Titian and Watteau. Moreover, some fa
This pagan scene shows the offer that the Bacchants, or followers of Bacchus, made to their god. In the center, a priest offers the sacrifice on an altar in front of the statue of the deity crowned with grape leaves. All around, those attending the feast drink, or appear totally inebriated, sleeping off the effects of the wine. This mythological scene shows how Houasse was influenced by the tradit
In his interpretation of the traditional subject of the Holy Family Houasse evokes the French tradition of the second half of the 17th century century, imbuing it with the currently fashionable Italianate air. Within the overall darkness a powerful light source highlights the figures of the Virgin and Child and the infant Saint John the Baptist. The less prominent Saint Joseph watches them from th
