1874, Ludovic-Napoléon Lepic, The Flood -- National Gallery of Art (Washington) (special exhibition)
From the museum label:
Salon 1874, no. 1186
Lepic was inspired by the biblical account of the flood from the book of Genesis, which tells of God's decision to cleanse the world and start anew. The artist's elaborate, multipart composition downplays Noah and the ark he was instructed to build for housing the creatures of the Earth. Instead, the painting focuses on the flood and its aftermath.
Although the central panel and the crowning curved panel are now lost, the overall composition was recorded in an etching by Noël Masson (seen nearby). These two surviving panels depict a raven and a dove, which Noah sent out in search of signs the flood was over. Only the dove returned, bearing an olive branch that signaled the world's renewal.
1874, Ludovic-Napoléon Lepic, The Flood -- National Gallery of Art (Washington) (special exhibition)
From the museum label:
Salon 1874, no. 1186
Lepic was inspired by the biblical account of the flood from the book of Genesis, which tells of God's decision to cleanse the world and start anew. The artist's elaborate, multipart composition downplays Noah and the ark he was instructed to build for housing the creatures of the Earth. Instead, the painting focuses on the flood and its aftermath.
Although the central panel and the crowning curved panel are now lost, the overall composition was recorded in an etching by Noël Masson (seen nearby). These two surviving panels depict a raven and a dove, which Noah sent out in search of signs the flood was over. Only the dove returned, bearing an olive branch that signaled the world's renewal.