Monks Receiving Pilgrims in their Monastery

This watercolor, originally mounted on a single mat with 2009.259A but now separate, entered the Morgan Library & Museum under the name Jean-Louis-Marie Prudhomme. Nothing is known of Prudhomme as an artist, though he was a renowned librarian and journalist during the French Revolution. He narrowly escaped execution during the Reign of Terror because of his pro-royalist writings. These two highly finished watercolors were perhaps preparatory for one of Prudhomme's many publications. The interior scene depicted in this drawing features monks receiving pilgrims, washing their feet, and feeding them.