Naples in Paris. The Louvre Hosts the Museo di Capodimonte

FRENCH LANGUAGE

An atypical painter, Louis Janmot (1814-1892) remained on the fringes of art history for a long time. In 1832, just enrolled at the School of Fine Arts, Janmot won the annual competition with a self-portrait. From then on, he moved to Paris and trained with Victor d'Orsel then Ingres. From 1836, he regularly exhibited large religious compositions at the Salon, mainly intended for church decoration. In 1855, he managed to present, at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, the first cycle of the Poem of the Soul. However, he did not achieve the expected success. The exhibition presents The Poem of the Soul, which Henri Focillon will describe as "the most remarkable, the most coherent and the strangest ensemble of romantic spiritualism". This pictorial cycle, with a message imbued with Catholic faith, illustrates the journey of a young man from birth to adulthood, confronted with the joys, dangers and trials of life. It will occupy the artist for almost 50 years. A poem of 2,814 lines, written by Janmot accompanies the works. Admired by Gaultier and Baudelaire, the ensemble composes an unprecedented hybrid, literary and pictorial work.

Beaux Arts Éditions looks back on the artist, his work and his great work and deciphers all the scenes.

Exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay, from September 12, 2023 to January 7, 2024

French language
76 pages - September 2023