View of The Muses of Inspiration Hail the Spirit, The Messenger of Light, right side

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. The view depicts the right portion of this long panel, showing four muses and the figures of Enlightenment (top left) and Contemplation (left). 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.