Print - Galerie Ary Jan

Philippe Jolyet (1832-1908)
Sara the bather
Oil on canvas signed and dated 1881 lower left
51.18 x 68.50 inch
As a French school painter, Jolyet studied at the Beaux-Arts of Paris in 1854, under the supervision of Léon
Cogniet. He started exhibiting at the Paris Salon from 1863 with popular scenes such as Jeux populaires au Pays
basque. From then on, he took part in the Salon and received a merit distinction in 1885, as well as a medal at the
Exposition Universelle the same year. Beside the religious and theatrical scenes, he also completed women
portraits in a style quite similar to Corot's, while the subtle colours of his works reminds of Raffaelli.
This majestic oil painting perfectly suits to the Victor Hugo's poem with the same title, in the Orientales. Indeed,
the first verses of Hugo praise the beauty bather, creating a daydream atmosphere:
"In a swinging hammock lying,
Lightly flying,
Zara, lovely indolent,
O'er a fountain's crystal wave
There to lave
Her young beauty see her bent"
Through these verses the poet's feather combines with the paintbrush of the artist in order to flatter an exquisite
naked Venus with a pale skin. Partially wrapped in sheets, she lies leisurely in a hammock bed which moulds her
shapes; peaceful, inclining her head over her shoulder, Zara is lost in her fantasy. She holds in her right hand her
long black hair which contrasts with her milky skin. The artist emphasized this peaceful atmosphere with a verdant
background: he combined bright and dark green tones and played with light and shadow. But one can truly notice
his talent in the shaped body of the woman: Zara's body catches the sight and stands out against the dark vegetal
background, partially drafted.
Museums
Musée des Beaux Art: Bayonne, Rouen, Chalon-sur-Saône, Dijon
Paris; Musée du Louvre département des Arts graphiques
Mâcon; Musée des Ursulines
Tournus; Musée Greuze
Dijon; Musée des Beaux-Arts
Rouen; Musée des Beaux-Arts
Galerie Ary Jan
38 rue de Penthièvre | 75008 Paris
Tel : +33 (0)1 42 61 42 10 | Mobile : +33 (0)6 07 88 75 84
[email protected] | www.galeriearyjan.com
Bibliography
Benzit, Grun
Dictionnaire des petits maîtres de la peinture, Les éditions de l'amateur
Orientales, Victor Hugo
Galerie Ary Jan
38 rue de Penthièvre | 75008 Paris
Tel : +33 (0)1 42 61 42 10 | Mobile : +33 (0)6 07 88 75 84
[email protected] | www.galeriearyjan.com