PUVIS DE CHAVANNES, Pierre-Cécile
(b. 1824, Lyon, d. 1898, Paris)

Christian Inspiration

1887-88
Oil on paper, mounted on canvas, 105 x 130 cm
National Museum of American Art, Washington

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Symbolist groups organized themselves as brotherhoods to recreate the monastic ideal that Fra Angelico represented. For Puvis de Chavannes, the hills and convent of Fiesole became the setting for Christian Inspiration, which portrayed Fra Angelico directing his workshop.