View of The Muses of Inspiration Hail the Spirit, The Messenger of Light, central section

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

View of The Muses of Inspiration Hail the Spirit, The Messenger of Light, the 16'x50' panel running along the Bates Hall entrance wall. This section depicts the winged figure of Enlightenment, cresting the doorway to Bates Hall. Flanking the doorway are the figures of Study (at left, holding a tablet) and Contemplation (at right, with her hand held to her head in thought). The figures and perspective were rendered in a particularly "flat" manner so as to remain faithful to classical fresco painting, in which the rendering was meant to retain its identity as the surface of a wall.