607 - François Marius GRANET (1775–1849), attributed to

François Marius GRANET (1775–1849), attributed to Interior of the Choir of the Capuchin Church on Barberini Square, Rome Inscription “Granet” on the stretcher. H_99.8 x W_74.3 cm (Re-stretched) This painting is based on one of François-Marius Granet’s most famous compositions, presented at the 1819 Salon; its conception appears to date back several years earlier, as evidenced by a version commissioned as early as 1817 for the Duchess of Berry. This work likely represents the culmination of the painter’s Roman career. When it was exhibited at the Salon, Louis XVIII himself is said to have praised the striking realism of the monks’ figures. The success of this composition was unwavering, and Granet produced at least sixteen versions of it, intended for the most prestigious European collections. Louis Bonaparte, Charles IV of Spain, George IV of England, Alexander I of Russia, and even the Pope each owned a copy. As a testament to its fame, Jacques-Joseph Duhen and Noël-Thomas-Joseph Clérian also presented copies of it at the Salons of 1821 and 1829. This composition remains undoubtedly one of Granet’s most famous works and is an iconic piece of French painting from the first half of the 19th century. Produced in numerous variations—sometimes depicting monks, sometimes nuns, with slight changes in tone and detail—it enjoyed considerable popularity. Its success was such that Granet appears to have devoted a significant portion of his time to its various versions between 1815 and 1820.