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La Douleur by Jean-Léon Gérôme

La Douleur is a patinated bronze sculpture created in 1891 by French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme. It was made to ornament the tomb of his only son, Jean Armand Gérôme, who died in 1891 after drowning. The work remained on the grave at Montmartre Cemetery in Paris until 1985, when Mme Masson, the artist’s granddaughter, donated it to the museum in Vesoul. The sculpture shows a seated woman wrapped in a veil, with a vacant gaze, head bowed and resting on one hand, elbow on her thigh. Her other arm hangs loosely between her knees, and her feet are bare. A few flowers are placed beside her.

La Douleur bronze sculpture of a seated figure resting its chin on one hand
La Douleur by Jean-Léon Gérôme, shown as a dark bronze seated figure on a wooden pedestal.
August 2023 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
La Douleur bronze sculpture of a seated figure with its head resting on one hand before a wooden lattice screen.
La Douleur by Jean-Léon Gérôme, shown as a dark bronze seated figure in an indoor setting.
August 2023 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
La Douleur, a dark metal sculpture of a seated woman resting her head on her hand.
La Douleur shown as a dark metal figure seated with her head leaning on her hand.
August 2023 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
La Douleur, a dark metal sculpture of a draped figure with one hand to the cheek, standing on a plinth.
La Douleur shown as a dark metallic sculpture of a draped figure posed with one hand against the cheek.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
La Douleur bronze sculpture showing the head and shoulders of a figure with wavy hair and a hand resting under the chin.
Close-up of La Douleur, showing the bronze figure’s thoughtful expression and draped form.
August 2023 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleLa Douleur
TypeSculpture
Alternative titleIl dolore

Creator

ArtistJean-Léon Gérôme
Artist nationalityFrench

Historical context

Date1891

Iconography and meaning

Year of death of commemorated person1891
InterpretationA personification of the artist’s mourning for the loss of his son
Expressive themeGrief, sorrow, pain
Cause of death of commemorated personDrowning
Relationship to artistOnly son
Person commemoratedJean-Armand Gérôme
PurposeCreated to decorate the tomb of the artist’s only son, Jean-Armand Gérôme

Discovery and provenance

Original locationTomb at Montmartre Cemetery, Paris, eighteenth division
DonorMadame Masson, the artist’s granddaughter
Transfer year1985
Time on tombUntil 1985

Location and ownership

Current locationGeorges Garret Museum, Vesoul, France

Materials

MaterialPatinated bronze

Appearance

Figure depictedA seated woman
PoseWrapped in a veil, with her head bowed and resting on her hand, elbow on her thigh, and her other arm hanging loosely between her knees
Facial expressionBlank gaze
FeetBarefoot
Additional detailsSome flowers are placed beside the figure at the base