The Nun's Parrot 1840

Jean-François Millet painted 'The Nun's Parrot' using oil on canvas, a fine art tradition since the Renaissance. The magic here lies in the blending of pigments, each ground and mixed to create a range of visual effects. Note how the texture and weight of the oil paint lends a richness to the scene, particularly in the rendering of the nuns' habits and the rough clothing of the man. Millet, known for depicting rural life, here turns his attention to a different social environment: a group of nuns fixated on the arrival of a parrot. It's a scene of implied narrative, perhaps even satire, the artist perhaps commenting on the strictures of religious life and the allure of the exotic. The very act of painting with oils, layering colors and textures, mirrors the complex social layers of the period. The use of traditional materials and methods serves to elevate the subject, prompting us to consider the meaning behind this unusual tableau.