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“Joan of Arc,” was painted by the French realist

artist Jules Bastien-Lepage in 1879. “After the

province of Lorraine was lost to Germany following

the Franco-Prussian War in 1821, The Frenchmen saw

in Joan of Arc a new and powerful symbol. In

1875, Bastien-Lepage, a native of Lorraine began

to make studies for a picture of her. In the

present painting, exhibited in the Salon of 1880,

Joan is shown receiving her revelation in her

parents garden. Behind her are Saints Michael,

Margaret, and Catherine. (Caption next to

painting in The Metropolitan)”

Jules Bastien-Lepage creates a realistic

atmosphere, including a supernatural,

religious-like presence within his painting. Oil

on canvas was used to create the realistic quality

of the work. By closely examining the artist’s

technique, it is clear that he uses delicate brush

strokes in a true to life manner. The colors, and

use of light seem to be painted in a layered

fashion to give the landscape a sense of depth.

The background of the painting is a garden which

include foliage and brush that surrounds the

primary focus of the painting, Joan of Arc. The

artist put a great effort into the details of the

scene. Bastien-Lepage uses a distinct realistic

quality in his painting which is visible in each

individual leaf and branch. Various hues of earth

tones, green and brown being the most evident, are

blended together in the garden scene.

In the foreground of the painting is Joan of Arc.

She is painted with a seemingly thicker paint

technique. This makes her a more easily...