"A. Maumet (19th Century) - The Discovery Of A Funerary Slab In A Ruined Church"
A. MAUMET (19th century) Oil on canvas 65 x 54.5 cm (78 x 66 cm with the frame) Signed and dated lower right "A. Maumet / 1844" Beautiful 19th century frame The romantic years began with the rediscovery of monuments historical and medieval. Many artists take part in it, for example by making lithographs for Baron Taylor's work on the Picturesque Sites of France, or by making illustrations for novels and newspapers. Many artists went to Paris and launched themselves at the Paris Salon or exhibited troubadour-style scenes at provincial Salons. This kind of painting is between the historical genre scene and the topographical view with a romanticized staging of history against the backdrop of a picturesque place, indoors or outdoors. Outside, it is then an abbey, a famous church or a beautiful castle in ruins. Who says staging says light effect and certain artists impose themselves in this respect like Marius Granet - we then say "a light à la Granet" - or even Charles Daguerre and Charles Marie Bouton, painters and inventors of dioramas! Our painting is one of those "à la Granet" paintings where figures are gathered around a kneeling man who points to a funerary slab in a ruined church. It is probably the discovery of the burial of a famous person. The scene is romantic and the light effects with strong chiaroscuros are characteristic. The painting is signed and dated 1844. 
