Meditate with Louis Janmot (1814-1892)

LYONNAIS trained in Paris and Rome, the painter Louis Janmot was, in his youth, a student of Abbé Noirot (1793-1880), a renowned priest-teacher, nicknamed the “Christian Socrates”. The latter trained, through his philosophical teaching, a whole generation of young Christians committed to social Catholicism, including the future Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, founder of the Society of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. At the age of 22, Janmot launched an unprecedented pictorial and poetic project: in 18 large paintings and 16 charcoal drawings, he illustrated the Poem of the soul , a text of 2,800 verses. A unique work, which tells in a symbolic and dreamlike way the journey of a soul on Earth.

Imbued with spiritual romanticism, the artist comments on the developments of a French society confronted with the industrial revolution, the reorganization of educational institutions and the evolution of morals. In this seventh painting, the two children symbolizing the soul on the way climb the steps of an immense staircase. They advance between, on one side, a dark, mineral and poorly lit nature. And, on the other, a long building of luminous white stone, opening onto an infinity of cells at the door of which stand learned professors, books and candles in hands. They evoke teaching full of rational certainties which then spreads, without any transcendence. A temptation and a peril for every soul. Even mortal, as symbolized by the old woman on the far right. But in the branches of the tree, an owl watches and invites. An ancient figure of true wisdom, she guides fearful children. Step by step, they will learn to resist the false attractions of power and pride.

THE BAD PATH (1850), oil and graphite pencil on canvas, 112.6 x 143.4 cm. TO SEE in the exhibition “Louis Janmot. The poem of the soul », at the Musée d’Orsay, in Paris. Until January 7, 2024.