The Muses of Inspiration hail the Spirit, the Messenger of Light

Puvis de Chavannes, Pierre, 1824-1898 · [ca. 1893–1896]

Set against a background of soft green heather fields, a strikingly blue sea, and a golden pastel sky, nine, white-robed muses regard Enlightenment, a winged figure who stands above the doorway to Bates Hall, emitting rays of light from his hands. The swath of fabric was added to the figure by an artist's assistant after the panels arrived in Boston, as his nudity was not widely accepted. Also pictured in this panel are the figures of Study (left of the doorway, holding a tablet) and Contemplation (right of the doorway, with her finger to her head in thought).