[Angel of the Passion, Sainte-Chapelle, Paris]
Serendipity occasionally aids the muses, as here, where a worker's fatigue, a gentle breeze, and a bit of sunshine have helped one of the medium's early masters achieve something far beyond his original intention. Mestral was commissioned by the sculptor Adolphe-Victor Geoffroy Dechaume to document one of his angels of the passion before it was lifted to a high and inaccessible perch at the base of the flèche of the Sainte-Chapelle. Working at the restoration site, the photographer strung up a white canvas to provide a neutral background for the sculpture; however, during the long exposure (perhaps ten or fifteen minutes) that drapery blew in the breeze, softening its edges and folds in a blur of light. As a result, one has the sense that the sculpted angel has come to life and descended a beam of light to appear to the sleeping workman in a dream—like the angel appearing to Jacob—while his companion remains oblivious to the vision taking place a few feet away.
Artwork Details
- Title: [Angel of the Passion, Sainte-Chapelle, Paris]
- Artist: Auguste Mestral (French, Rans 1812–1884 Rans)
- Date: 1853–1854
- Medium: Salted paper print from paper negative
- Dimensions: 32.9 x 20.3 cm (12 15/16 x 8 in.)
- Classification: Photographs
- Credit Line: Gilman Collection, Purchase, The Howard Gilman Foundation Gift, 2002
- Object Number: 2002.9
- Curatorial Department: Photographs
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Auguste Mestral
1853–54
Auguste Mestral
1853–1854
Auguste Mestral
1853–1854
Charles Nègre
1858–59
Henri-Jean-Louis Le Secq
1852
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.