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Lot Essay
This painting can be regarded as a highlight in the oeuvre of the artist, and has a remarkable background. In 1847 the Lady Chapel of the Saint-Eustache Church in Paris commissioned the work from the artist. After three years Scheffer returned the commission because of the difficulties he experienced with the complexity of the work. However he still continued working on the consignment and eventually he was so pleased with the result, that he decided to produce several other versions of this composition, such as the one in the collection of the Dordrechts Museum (inv. no. DM/s/102).
The present lot was acquired by Scheffer's nephew Ary Johannes Lamme, a forefather of the present owners.
The composition of the work is assembled by figures from various earlier works by Scheffer, making it almost a summary of the artist's repertoire. The main figure is Mary comforting the sorrows. This symbolizes a theme often found in Scheffer works; faith as consolation. In the lower part we see figures who embody the human pain, and in the upper part figures that are spiritually free and follow their happiness in the devine light.
The present lot was acquired by Scheffer's nephew Ary Johannes Lamme, a forefather of the present owners.
The composition of the work is assembled by figures from various earlier works by Scheffer, making it almost a summary of the artist's repertoire. The main figure is Mary comforting the sorrows. This symbolizes a theme often found in Scheffer works; faith as consolation. In the lower part we see figures who embody the human pain, and in the upper part figures that are spiritually free and follow their happiness in the devine light.