Daughter of Jephthah c. late 17th century

Louis Chéron made this red chalk drawing, Daughter of Jephthah. It depicts a scene from the Bible, a military commander returning home to be greeted by his daughter. Chéron was French, but spent much of his career in England. He occupied a place in the artistic institutions of both countries, which at that time were becoming increasingly connected. He was part of a movement of artists who believed that art should be based on classical ideals of beauty and order. This meant looking to the art of ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration, visible here in the architectural background and the figures' clothing. Biblical stories were frequently mined for their moral lessons. Jephthah had made a vow to sacrifice the first thing he met on his return from battle, and it turned out to be his daughter. It's a story of sacrifice and duty, but also of the potential dangers of religious zeal. Understanding such an image requires us to investigate both the history of art institutions, and of religious and political beliefs in the period.