Saint Cloud; Study for the frieze at Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Paris 1835 - 1864

Hippolyte Flandrin made this study for the frieze at Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Paris using red chalk on paper. The image depicts Saint Cloud as a solitary figure draped in monastic robes. Flandrin, a student of Ingres, was part of a revival of classical and religious art in 19th-century France. This occurred during a time when the Catholic Church was reasserting its influence after the French Revolution. The Saint-Vincent-de-Paul commission was itself part of a broader effort to revive religious institutions after decades of secularization. How do we interpret the image? The frieze was designed to inspire piety and reinforce traditional values. Flandrin's figures, with their idealized forms and serene expressions, embody these ideals. But, beyond the artist’s intentions, as historians, we need to explore the visual culture of the period, considering the role of the church and the state in shaping artistic production, using archives, journals, and other historical documents. The meaning of this Saint Cloud is thus inseparable from its social and institutional context.