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Presumably destroyed, of course, but the exact condition of the painting isn't certain
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{{short description|Lost painting by Merry-Joseph Blondel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
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[[File:La Circassienne au Bain.jpg|thumb|right|An illustration of the painting which appeared in the publication ''Almanach des Dames'' in 1823.]]
{{multiple image
| align = right


⚫
'''''La Circassienne au Bain''''', also known as '''''Une Baigneuse''''', was a large [[Neoclassicism|Neoclassical]] [[oil painting]] from 1814 by [[Merry-Joseph Blondel]] depicting a life-sized young [[nudity|naked]] [[Circassian beauty|Circassian woman]] bathing in an idealized setting from [[classical antiquity]]. The painting was lost with the [[Sinking of the RMS Titanic|sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'']] in 1912. When financial compensation claims were filed with US commissioner Gilchrist in January 1913, the painting gained notoriety as the subject of the largest claim made against the [[White Star Line]] for the loss of a single item of baggage or cargo.<ref name=N1 />
| image1 = La Circassienne au Bain.jpg
| caption1 = An engraving made in 1923 of the painting

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| image2 = La Circassienne au Bain, After Blondel.JPG
| width2 = 188
| caption2 = A copy by John Parker

| footer = Examples of ''La Circassienne au Bain'', the painting lost on the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] in 1912.
}}
⚫
'''''La Circassienne au Bain''''', also known as '''''Une Baigneuse''''', was a large [[Neoclassicism|Neoclassical]] [[oil painting]] from 1814 by [[Merry-Joseph Blondel]] depicting a life-sized young [[Circassian beauties|Circassian woman]] bathing in an idealized setting from [[classical antiquity]]. The painting was destroyed with the sinking of the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] in 1912. When financial compensation claims were filed with US commissioner Gilchrist in January 1913, the painting gained notoriety as the subject of the largest claim made against the [[White Star Line]] for the loss of a single item of baggage or cargo.<ref>''[[The New York Times]]'', Thursday January 16th, 1913, ''Titanic Survivors Asking $6,000,000'', p.28</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
=== Louvre exhibition ===
=== Louvre exhibition ===
The painting was first exhibited at the [[Salon (Paris)|Paris Salon]], at the [[Louvre]] museum in November 1814.<ref>Livret du Salon du Louvre ''Explication des ouvrages de peinture, sculpture, Architecture et Gravure exposes au musee royal des arts, le 1er Novembre 1814'', p.11</ref> The initial critical reaction to the painting was muted, with positive descriptions restricted to praising the painting's overall competence and Blondel's attention to detail.<ref> ''Le Spectateur, No. xxv: Observations sur l’etat des arts au dix-neuvieme siecle, dans le salon de 1814.'' p.246</ref> Apart from technical misgivings about the twist of the upper body and the absence of 'grace' in the figure of the young woman, the chief concern of the critics seems to have been that, despite its large scale, it was not as exciting a painting as some of Blondel’s previous works.<ref> Delpech, M. S. ''Examen raisonne des ouvrages de peinture, sculpture et gravure, exposes au salon du Louvre en 1814'', p. 174 </ref> However, by 1823, critics began talking more enthusiastically about the painting, apparently influenced both by the favourable popular reception to printed reproductions of the painting and by Blondel’s improving career status.<ref>Cotta F.G. ''Almanach des Dames pour l’An 1823'', Paris, Gravure No. 2, pp5-8</ref>
The painting was first exhibited at the [[Salon (Paris)|Paris Salon]], at the [[Louvre]] museum in November 1814.<ref>Livret du Salon du Louvre ''Explication des ouvrages de peinture, sculpture, Architecture et Gravure exposes au musee royal des arts, le 1er Novembre 1814'', p.11</ref> The initial critical reaction to the painting was muted, with positive descriptions restricted to praising the painting's overall competence and Blondel's attention to detail.<ref> ''Le Spectateur, No. xxv: Observations sur l’etat des arts au dix-neuvieme siecle, dans le salon de 1814.'' p.246</ref> Apart from technical misgivings about the twist of the upper body and the absence of 'grace' in the figure of the young woman, the chief concern of the critics seems to have been that, despite its large scale, it was not as exciting a painting as some of Blondel’s previous works.<ref> Delpech, M. S. ''Examen raisonne des ouvrages de peinture, sculpture et gravure, exposes au salon du Louvre en 1814'', p. 174 </ref> However, by 1823, critics began talking more enthusiastically about the painting, apparently influenced both by the favourable popular reception to printed reproductions of the painting and by Blondel’s improving career status.<ref>Cotta F.G. ''Almanach des Dames pour l’An 1823'', Paris, Gravure No. 2, pp5-8</ref>


=== Loss on the RMS ''Titanic'' ===
=== Loss on the RMS ''Titanic'' ===

⚫
In January 1913, a claim was filed in New York against the White Star Line, by ''Titanic'' survivor [[Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson]], for financial compensation resulting from the loss of the painting. The amount of the claim was $100,000 ($2.4 million equivalent in 2014), making it by far the most highly valued single item of luggage or cargo lost as a result of the sinking.<ref>''[[The New York Times]], Thursday January 16th, 1913, ''Titanic Survivors Asking $6,000,000'', p.28</ref>
⚫
[[File:La Circassienne au Bain, After Blondel.JPG|thumb|right|A copy by John Parker]]
⚫
In January 1913, a claim was filed in New York against the [[White Star Line]], by ''[[RMS Titanic|Titanic]]'' survivor [[Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson]], for financial compensation resulting from the loss of the painting. The amount of the claim was $100,000 (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|.1|1913|r=1}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}), making it by far the most highly valued single item of luggage or cargo lost as a result of the sinking.<ref name=N1>{{cite news | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=16 January 1913 | title=Titanic Survivors Asking $6,000,000 | page=28}}</ref> Bjornstrom-Steffansson did not receive the compensation he asked; all the cases against White Star were settled for a combined amount of $644,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://titanicnewschannel.com/blog/tag/la-circassienne-au-bain/|title=La Circassienne au Bain {{!}} Titanic News Channel|website=titanicnewschannel.com|date=23 February 2016 |access-date=2019-01-07}}</ref>

====Size of the painting====
====Size of the painting====
Steffansson's claim form described a substantial painting "8 x 4 feet" in size, but did not specify whether this referred to the painted canvas size, the canvas plus frame or the crate size.<ref>''District Court of the United States, Southern district of New York, Claim by H. Bjornstrom-Steffanson - Exhibit A'', 9th January 1913, US National Archives, New York.</ref> This format does not conform to the [[French standard sizes for oil paintings | standard size conventions]] for full length portraits, formalised during the 19th century. Neither does it match the format ratio of any known full length portrait by Blondel. Extant full length, life-sized standing female portraits by Blondel, in the public domain, conform to the French standard ''F120'' (''figure 120'') sized canvas (195 cm (76.75 inches) x 130 cm (51.25 inches)), within a margin of plus or minus 10 cm (4 inches).
Steffansson's claim form described a substantial painting "8 x 4 feet" in size, but did not specify whether this referred to the painted canvas size, the canvas plus frame or the crate size.<ref>''District Court of the United States, Southern district of New York, Claim by H. Bjornstrom-Steffanson - Exhibit A'', 9 January 1913, US National Archives, New York.</ref> This format does not conform to the [[French standard sizes for oil paintings |standard size conventions]] for full-length portraits, formalised during the 19th century. Neither does it match the format ratio of any known full-length portrait by Blondel. Extant full length, life-sized standing female portraits by Blondel, in the public domain, conform to the French standard ''F120'' (''figure 120'') sized canvas ({{cvt|195|x|130|cm|ftin}}), within a margin of plus or minus {{cvt|10|cm|in|0}}.


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{Commons category inline|La Circassienne au Bain}}
*{{Commons category inline|La Circassienne au Bain|''La Circassienne au Bain''}}

{{RMS Titanic}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Circassienne au Bain}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Circassienne au Bain}}
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[[Category:Lost paintings]]
[[Category:Lost paintings]]
[[Category:Nude art]]
[[Category:Nude art]]
[[Category:Bathing in art]]

Latest revision as of 01:45, 26 April 2024

An illustration of the painting which appeared in the publication Almanach des Dames in 1823.

La Circassienne au Bain, also known as Une Baigneuse, was a large Neoclassical oil painting from 1814 by Merry-Joseph Blondel depicting a life-sized young naked Circassian woman bathing in an idealized setting from classical antiquity. The painting was lost with the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. When financial compensation claims were filed with US commissioner Gilchrist in January 1913, the painting gained notoriety as the subject of the largest claim made against the White Star Line for the loss of a single item of baggage or cargo.[1]

History

[edit]

Louvre exhibition

[edit]

The painting was first exhibited at the Paris Salon, at the Louvre museum in November 1814.[2] The initial critical reaction to the painting was muted, with positive descriptions restricted to praising the painting's overall competence and Blondel's attention to detail.[3] Apart from technical misgivings about the twist of the upper body and the absence of 'grace' in the figure of the young woman, the chief concern of the critics seems to have been that, despite its large scale, it was not as exciting a painting as some of Blondel’s previous works.[4] However, by 1823, critics began talking more enthusiastically about the painting, apparently influenced both by the favourable popular reception to printed reproductions of the painting and by Blondel’s improving career status.[5]

Loss on the RMS Titanic

[edit]
A copy by John Parker

In January 1913, a claim was filed in New York against the White Star Line, by Titanic survivor Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson, for financial compensation resulting from the loss of the painting. The amount of the claim was $100,000 (equivalent to $3.1 million in 2023), making it by far the most highly valued single item of luggage or cargo lost as a result of the sinking.[1] Bjornstrom-Steffansson did not receive the compensation he asked; all the cases against White Star were settled for a combined amount of $644,000.[6]

Size of the painting

[edit]

Steffansson's claim form described a substantial painting "8 x 4 feet" in size, but did not specify whether this referred to the painted canvas size, the canvas plus frame or the crate size.[7] This format does not conform to the standard size conventions for full-length portraits, formalised during the 19th century. Neither does it match the format ratio of any known full-length portrait by Blondel. Extant full length, life-sized standing female portraits by Blondel, in the public domain, conform to the French standard F120 (figure 120) sized canvas (195 cm × 130 cm (6 ft 5 in × 4 ft 3 in)), within a margin of plus or minus 10 cm (4 in).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Titanic Survivors Asking $6,000,000". The New York Times. 16 January 1913. p. 28.
  2. ^ Livret du Salon du Louvre Explication des ouvrages de peinture, sculpture, Architecture et Gravure exposes au musee royal des arts, le 1er Novembre 1814, p.11
  3. ^ Le Spectateur, No. xxv: Observations sur l’etat des arts au dix-neuvieme siecle, dans le salon de 1814. p.246
  4. ^ Delpech, M. S. Examen raisonne des ouvrages de peinture, sculpture et gravure, exposes au salon du Louvre en 1814, p. 174
  5. ^ Cotta F.G. Almanach des Dames pour l’An 1823, Paris, Gravure No. 2, pp5-8
  6. ^ "La Circassienne au Bain | Titanic News Channel". titanicnewschannel.com. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  7. ^ District Court of the United States, Southern district of New York, Claim by H. Bjornstrom-Steffanson - Exhibit A, 9 January 1913, US National Archives, New York.
[edit]
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