Artwork Page for A Night Class

Details / Information for A Night Class

A Night Class

c. 1881

Jehan-Georges Vibert

(French, 1840–1902)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
oil on wood panel
Measurements
Framed: 97.2 x 82.5 x 12.5 cm (38 1/4 x 32 1/2 x 4 15/16 in.); Unframed: 60.8 x 45.4 cm (23 15/16 x 17 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Noah L. Butkin 1980.292
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

The artist himself described his painting of a night class: "Under smoldering electric lights, a model in historical costume poses for eager, ambitious art students. A few of them might have real talent, some could become commercial artists, but most, unfortunately, have no future in art at all." Although trained in a conservative academic style, Vibert here pokes fun at his own artistic tradition. Vibert was fond of caricaturing the pretentious elements of 19th-century French society. The work was shown at the 1881 Salon exhibition.
A vertically oriented oil painting depicts a dark room illuminated by two large overhead lights. On our left, a light-skinned man in a tricorne hat and red breeches sits smoking a pipe. He faces rows of light-skinned men and boys sketching under small, green-shaded lamps. In the foreground, a tray of glasses and a large ceramic jug rest on a table, while scattered sketches lie on the floor in shadows.

A Night Class

c. 1881

Jehan-Georges Vibert

(French, 1840–1902)
France, 19th century

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