Preparatory study by 'Erecting a Calvary' 1858

"Preparatory Study by 'Erecting a Calvary'" is a preparatory sketch by Jules Breton from 1858. It depicts a somber procession of mourners, likely a funeral, in front of a church. The scene is characterized by a sense of quiet solemnity, with the figures rendered in a restrained palette of browns and grays. This preparatory sketch is a testament to Breton's skill in capturing the mood and atmosphere of everyday life in rural France, a theme he often explored in his work. The painting is currently housed in the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, Lille, France.