Drapery Study for a Cleric (lower register; study for wall paintings in the Chapel of Saint Remi, Sainte-Clotilde, Paris, 1858) 1825 - 1875

Isidore Pils's "Drapery Study for a Cleric" is a preparatory drawing created for a mural in the Chapel of Saint Remi at Sainte-Clotilde in Paris. The study focuses on the lower register, highlighting the folds and textures of a cleric's robe as they hold a book. Executed in charcoal and chalk on paper, the drawing exemplifies Pils's meticulous attention to detail and his mastery of depicting realistic drapery. The artwork currently resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, serving as a testament to the artistic process behind the monumental works of 19th-century French art.