Drapery Study for a Monk (lower register; study for wall paintings in the Chapel of Saint Remi, Sainte-Clotilde, Paris, 1858) 1830 - 1875

Isidore Pils’s "Drapery Study for a Monk" is a charcoal drawing on paper, a preliminary sketch for a wall painting in the Chapel of Saint Remi in the Parisian church of Sainte-Clotilde. This study focuses on the lower register of the painting and shows a detailed rendition of the drapery falling from a monk's robe. The drawing, which is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, reveals the artist's careful attention to detail and his mastery of depicting the textures and folds of fabric. This piece, dating back to the mid-19th century, offers a glimpse into the creative process of a prominent French artist.