Loading

A Christening in Revolutionary France

Jean-Baptiste Mallet (French, 1759-1835)late 18th century

The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States

Mallet’s image depicts a Republican baptism ceremony during the French Revolution. The event takes place in a magnificent Gothic church, identifiable as such by its pointed arches and stained glass window. A mother presents her infant to the priest who raises his right hand as he administers the sacrament. Even the musicians pause from playing to watch this spectacle.

Show lessRead more
Download this artwork (provided by The Cleveland Museum of Art).
Learn more about this artwork.
  • Title: A Christening in Revolutionary France
  • Creator: Jean-Baptiste Mallet (French, 1759-1835)
  • Date Created: late 18th century
  • Physical Dimensions: Sheet: 33.3 x 44.6 cm (13 1/8 x 17 9/16 in.)
  • Provenance: Patrice Batelli; purchased by Mr. Noah L. Butkin [1918-1980], 1976 (sale, 3 December 1976, “Important old master drawings”, lot #102, Christie’s, London); bequest of Mrs. Muriel Butkin [1915-2008], 2005 to The Cleveland Museum of Art.
  • Type: Drawing
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/2017.213
  • Medium: Pen and brown and gray inks and red chalk and watercolor, heightened with white; squaring for transfer
  • Inscriptions: verso, upper left corner, in graphite: paoli 30, lower left corner, label pasted down on sheet: VALLEE, Md. D'Estampes,
  • Department: Drawings
  • Culture: France, 19th century
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Muriel Butkin
  • Collection: DR - French
  • Accession Number: 2017.213
The Cleveland Museum of Art

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Interested in Visual arts?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites