Baroque - Saint Joseph Charpentier by Georges de La Tour

 

La Tour, Georges de. Saint Joseph Charpentier (or Joseph the Carpenter). 1640 – 1645 c. Louvre Museum. Paris, France.

Georges de La Tour’s Saint Joseph Charpentier or Joseph the Carpenter is an oil painting currently residing in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The Council of Trent was the Catholic Church’s response to the protestant Reformation. In 1621 during the final years of the Trent Council, Pope Gregory XV declared St. Joseph’s Feast to be a holy day (Wilson 101). The proliferation of art and literature with Joseph as the subject exploded. This work is widely attributed to being a result of that Papal decree. The merging of spirituality with everyday life to tug on heartstrings and capture souls was at the very center of what the Catholic Reformation was trying to accomplish in art. It is believed the piece was painted sometime between 1640 and 1645 (Louvre n.d.). It is also thought to have been painted in the Duchy of Lorraine where the artist spent the majority of his life. This region was once a part of the Holy Roman Empire and would later become part of France.

As is often found in the style of Baroque, here we have an extremely dark background. The figures in the painting are illuminated by candlelight with Jesus almost luminescent in comparison to Joseph. It begs the question of whether the candle or the young Messiah is providing the light source. The earthy tones of the clothing are intended to make you comfortable with the figures as if they’re just everyday people. As Joseph looks up at Jesus, his brow just slightly furrows. You can almost feel the texture of his forehead or his callused hands.  

I must admit that when I first saw this painting, I did not initially think it was a religious theme. My first impression was that it was a wonderful image of a boy helping his father. I can see myself in that image. My father was a carpenter, and I would often help him work either holding a flashlight or handing him tools. This was a very familiar scene and one I still play out with my children. La Tour captured that brilliantly. Well played, Catholic Reformation, well played.    

The dimensions of this painting are approximately 3.5 feet wide by 4.5 feet tall (Louvre n.d.). It is a beautiful piece. It is a little large, but I could make room for this in my home. While it is religious-themed, if you weren’t familiar with that, you wouldn’t know it. On the surface, it’s just a small boy helping a wizened old man with a chore. As mentioned previously, it also connects on a personal level. This would look great in a large study, office, or even above a fireplace. I wouldn’t turn it down if the Louvre gave it to me.

 

For comparison to other Renaissance depictions of Joseph, let us look at The Adoration of the Christ Child by Bartolomeo di Giovanni below: 

Giovanni, Bartolomeo di. The Adoration of the Christ. 1485 c. Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 It was painted in Florence, Italy around 1485 (Philadelphia Museum of Art n.d.). This oil on panel currently resides at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Here you can see the bright colors and the landscape surrounding Joseph, Mary, and the newborn Jesus. It gives the illusion of space so often found in Renaissance art. In contrast, La Tour’s Saint Joseph Charpentier is much darker and the lighted elements draw attention to the figures in the foreground. The characters in this piece are almost angelic. Indeed, they are wearing halos. Whereas, La Tour shows Joseph doing a simple task while Jesus holds up a candle as light. Disheveled clothing and even wrinkles make the viewer relate to the figure as intended. Many fathers and sons have played out this scene for millennia.

 

Works Cited:

Wilson, Carolyn C. "Georges de La Tour’s Two Saint Josephs: Theology, Veneration, and Connections with Renaissance Italy’." Georges de La Tour: Adoration of the Shepherds, Christ with St. Joseph in the Carpenter’s Shop, ed. by V. Merline, D. Storti, D. Salmon, exh. cat., Milan (2011): 105.

Saint Joseph Charpentier by Georges de La Tour. Louvre Museum, 15 December 2023, Available at: https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010063817. (Accessed: 17 June 2024).

The Adoration of the Christ Child by Bartolomeo di Giovanni. Philadelphia Museum of Art. Available at: https://philamuseum.org/collection/object/48408. (Accessed: 17 June 2024).