Drapery Study for Clovis (middle register; study for wall paintings in the Chapel of Saint Remi, Sainte-Clotilde, Paris, 1858) 1820 - 1875

Curator: Isidore Pils created this drapery study sometime between 1820 and 1875 as preparation for wall paintings in the Chapel of Saint Remi. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Immediately, the soft, almost pearlescent sheen achieved with simple pencil on paper is striking. There’s a weightiness suggested, despite the ethereal quality. Curator: Yes, the contrast is skillfully deployed. Note how Pils uses varying pencil strokes to define the folds and volume, achieving an incredible sense of depth and realism. The implied form beneath the drapery is powerfully suggested by the structural use of light and shadow. Editor: Indeed. Drapery often symbolizes status, concealment, or revelation in art history. This particular study feels as if it is clothing royalty, given the folds look like a waterfall in shape. Does this allude to Saint Remi, the figure to whom the chapel is dedicated? I assume Clovis here would be the King of Franks? Curator: Precisely. The inclusion of Clovis in the title further roots it in a historical narrative. The drapery is not merely fabric; it represents power, ceremony, and the weight of history. Pils masterfully captures its texture. Look at how the soft gradients create a sense of dimensionality and materiality. Editor: Considering the intended context, the chapel wall, the upward cascading lines amplify a feeling of ascendance. The almost stark white of the reflected light lends the garment an aura of otherworldliness or blessing. A literal representation of godliness cloaked, maybe? Curator: A compelling idea. The simplicity of the medium amplifies this effect too; it refines it to its pure, structural essence. The economy of lines allows for a focus on shape and form and, ultimately, volume. The essence of Pils’ preparatory process is beautifully distilled here. Editor: Seeing the drapery as part of a larger story changes it from just cloth to something more. We project these readings on art because that's just the fabric of the art experience. Curator: A fine way to think about this superb drawing, indeed. Thank you for adding even more light to its nuanced visual language.