Mysterious origins
A fortuitous discovery
In 2019, when the Sauvegarde was looking for works to restore in the Paris region, it was offered a work that was atypical, to say the least.
The Adoration of the Shepherds, preserved in the church at Evry, had been spotted by an art historian who recognized it as the work of the painter Simon Vouet (1590-1949). The little church could well conceal a real treasure...
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) by Simon Vouet ou atelierLa Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
Tracing the work's history
But how did this painting end up in Evry's little church? Once the parish church of the village of Evry, it adjoined the château de Petit-Bourg (no longer in existence).
However, Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul has no trace of the work's donation or acquisition in contemporary descriptions of Vouet. The earliest trace of its presence in the church is a 19th-century postcard.
A 17th-century masterpiece?
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) by Simon Vouet ou atelierLa Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
A master feel
The large canvas (172x310 cm) has been preserved for years in a wing of the church. Although barely visible and soiled by the passage of time, it nevertheless reveals a very fine composition: the overall workmanship, the beauty of the drapery and the faces of the protagonists
hint at a work by a major 17th-century painter. Restoration has brought out the depth of the composition.
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) by Simon Vouet ou atelierLa Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
The composition
The painter places the Adoration in a luminous, grandiose setting. In a diagonal composition stabilized by one of the imposing classical architectures so dear to the artist, the shepherds come to witness, astonished and moved, Mary's presentation of the Child.
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) by Simon Vouet ou atelierLa Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
The elegant attitudes, the mannered gestures and the freshness of the colors are characteristic of the painter, while the chubby blond child and the women's slender fingers are almost a signature.
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) by Simon Vouet ou atelierLa Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
Touches of raw realism, in the depiction of goats and muscular shepherds, recall Vouet's early Caravaggesque influence.
A rediscovered Adoration?
The discovery of a preparatory drawing signed by Simon Vouet seems to corroborate the theory that this painting was executed by the painter at the end of his life. Although he appears to have painted several canvases on the theme of the Nativity, none of them have survived.
The Evry canvas could be a unique testimony to a lost part of the painter's oeuvre. Will restoration shed light on the mystery?
The restoration to answer art historians' questions
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) (2021)La Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
Learn more through restoration
With the help of a generous sponsor, restoration work will begin in 2021. The work of the restorers will enable us to better retrace the life of the work, while historians continue their research to discover the provenance of the canvas.
The Adoration of the Shepherds is in a rather satisfactory overall state of preservation, given its age and the absence of any previous restoration. Removal of the varnish and general scouring have restored the colors to their original brilliance, while restoration of the support and stretcher have tightened the canvas. The frame, made of decorated boards, has also been restored.
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) by Simon Vouet ou atelierLa Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
Cleaning the canvas restores it to its former glory. Under the hand of the restorers, the scene regains its liveliness and color. The work's grandiose architectural setting is once again visible, as is the beauty of the angelic figures at the top.
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) - detail (2021)La Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
Study and restoration of the frame revealed a disturbing fact: the work appears to have aged on the structure to which it was nailed. The frame is in fact shaped like those of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Adoration of the Shepherds (Adoration des bergers) by Simon Vouet ou atelierLa Sauvegarde de l’Art Français
While art historians are inclined to attribute the work to the master or his workshop, this discovery thickens the enigma surrounding L'Adoration des Bergers d'Evry. Is the work an original by the master or a work entrusted to his workshop?
While the master's hand seems visible in the execution of certain faces and animals, other figures in the work raise questions. The absence of repentance on the canvas points to an original work, but the possibility of a very well and reliably executed copy cannot be ruled out. A scientific analysis of the materials and pigments may reveal more...
La Sauvegarde de l'Art Français
Une restauration permise grâce au mécénat de Crédit Agricole Île-de-France Mécénat
