The Kiss of Peace and Justice
Laurent de La Hyre·1654
Historical Context
Laurent de La Hyre's Kiss of Peace and Justice from 1654 illustrates the Old Testament verse from Psalm 85 that describes the reconciliation of abstract virtues, a subject that resonated with the French classical tradition's love of allegorical personification. La Hyre, one of the founders of the French Royal Academy, represented the elegant, contemplative strain of French classicism that complemented Poussin's more austere approach.
Technical Analysis
La Hyre's oil-on-canvas technique features his characteristic cool, clear palette with smooth, precise brushwork creating idealized figures in a classically composed setting. The harmonious color relationships and careful drapery painting demonstrate the refined academic classicism of mid-17th-century French painting.
Provenance
Evrard Titon du Tillet, Paris, probably 1762; Randon de Boisset, Receveur General des Finances, Paris (sale: Paris, February 27—March 25, 1777, no. 170); Joulin [Joullain?]; Marquis de Sabran; purchased by J. B. P. Lebrun in 1796 for Mr. Codman (see Literature, 1935); (sale: Christie's, London, November 27,1970, no. 52, illus., and dated 1659); Lady Nathan; [Cyril Humphris, London). John L. Severance Fund, 1971.
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