The Artist in His Room at the Villa Medici, Rome

1817

The Artist in His Room at the Villa Medici, Rome, 1817. Léon Cogniet (French, 1794–1880). Oil on canvas; framed: 58 x 51 x 7.5 cm (22 13/16 x 20 1/16 x 2 15/16 in.); unframed: 44.5 x 37 cm (17 1/2 x 14 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1978.51 Léon Cogniet was one of many artists who traveled from across Europe to Rome during the early 19th century, drawing upon the city’s ancient past and its surrounding landscape for inspiration. In this formally composed scene, the artist stands within his studio, its walls bare and colorless in contrast to the dramatic light cast through his open window. In 1817, Léon Cogniet won the Prix de Rome for history painting, allowing him to live and work in the city for five years. The helmet, shield, and swords seen at left refer to the expectation that Cogniet would produce a history painting each year to send back to Paris for review.