The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Charon and the Souls of the Dead

c. 1858

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux

(French, 1827–1875)

France, 19th century

Pen and brown ink and graphite on antique laid paper (recto), black chalk on antique laid paper (verso)

Sheet: 16.1 x 22.4 cm (6 5/16 x 8 13/16 in.)

Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2019.251

Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This drawing was probably Carpeaux’s first version of the subject. In later sketches, he greatly reduced the number of figures in the composition.

Description

This drawing was likely created during time that Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux spent in Rome, where he studied the work of Renaissance masters. Carpeaux was particularly influenced by Michelangelo, especially the Italian sculptor’s compositions featuring twisted bodies and stacked forms. This drawing is one of several that were created in preparation for a painting—which was never completed—of Charon, responsible for ferrying deceased souls to the world of the dead.

c. 1858-1913
Studio of Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
December 9, 1913
(Galerie Manzi Joyant, Paris, France)
(Rowland, Browse, and Delbanco, London, United Kingdom)
(Adolphe Stein, Paris, France)
(Shepherd Gallery, New York, NY)
1975-76
Jan Milner, New York, NY
1976-2008
Muriel Butkin, Cleveland, OH
December 2, 2019
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Drawing Shop. The Non-Dissenters: Second Exhibition : David Through Meissonier : March 5-April 19. [New York]: The Drawing Shop, 1963. mentioned and reproduced no. 34
Shepherd Gallery, and Martin L. H. Reymert. Ingres & Delacroix Through Degas & Puvis De Chavannes: The Figure in French Art, 1800-1870 : Shepherd Gallery, May-June, 1975 : Catalog. New York: The Gallery, 1975. mentioned p. 285-6, no. 121, reproduced p. 286
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Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2019.251