It is difficult to differentiate the work of Hippolyte Flandrin from that of his brother Paul. The pronounced contours of this figure betray the influence of their teacher, and either brother could have painted it as a study from life (academie) under his tutelage, as early as 1829-1833. Alternatively, it may be a preparatory study for The Road to Calvary (1842–1846), part of Hippolyte's mural cycle for the church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, in Paris which was executed partly by Paul. There is no escaping the nudity here, and while it's more subdued than some of the other works shown, this one is arguably the most "scandalous" because the artist and subject were actually in the same room together. No gods to speak of here.
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