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

Isidore Pils made this study of drapery for a soldier around 1858 in preparation for wall paintings in the Chapel of Saint Remi, Sainte-Clotilde, Paris. In it, we can see how Pils used white chalk and charcoal to give life and volume to the drapery. Pils was commissioned to decorate the chapel at a time of heightened religious sentiment in France, and his work reflects the conservative values of the institution that supported him. The Catholic Church in France had a long history of commissioning art to promote its message, and Pils's work fits into this tradition. To fully understand the historical weight of this drawing, we could consult sources such as church records, historical documents, and the artist's letters. By placing Pils's drawing in its institutional and cultural context, we can better understand the social role of art.