Piece together this jigsaw puzzle of The Orphan of the Temple by Edward Matthew Ward (1816–1879) from our fine art collection.

The central character in this painting is Marie-Thérèse, the eldest daughter of Louis XVI of France and Marie-Antoinette. During the French Revolution her parents were executed, while she was held in the Temple Tower unaware of their fate.

Marie-Thérèse is shown in the grounds of her prison, drawing the fortress under the close supervision of her chaperone, Madame de Chanterenne. The male figure approaching may be Robespierre, a leader of the Revolution, who visited her in May 1794. Marie-Thérèse was finally released in December 1795 after three years in captivity.

The Orphan of the Temple is featured in our upcoming exhibition The Triumph of Art, available to view online ahead of the gallery display. The exhibition celebrates the restoration of The Triumph of art by Nicolas-Pierre Loir (1624 – 1679), given to us in the late 1800s. The exhibition also features highlights from The Atkinson’s collection, reflecting the art forms portrayed in ‘The Triumph of Art’, including portraiture, sculpture, music and painting.

View The Triumph of Art exhibition online here.

Posted on 11 June 2020 under At Home Activities, Exhibition, General news