The Städel Museum in Frankfurt has recently acquired a significant 17th-century French painting by Laurent de La Hyre, adding to its prestigious collection of French masterpieces from that era. The museum, which already houses two major French works from the same period - Claude Lorrain's "Noli me tangere" and notably the largest landscape ever painted by Nicolas Poussin - has now set its sights on another great master of the period with this new acquisition.
The newly acquired work depicts "The Assumption of the Virgin," painted around 1650, and represents one of numerous variations on this theme that was particularly dear to the artist. Measuring 58.4 x 44 cm and executed in oil on canvas, the painting was purchased with support from the Städelscher Museums-Verein, the association of Friends of the city's museums. The work is remarkably well-preserved, still mounted on its original canvas.
The painting's recent history adds to its intrigue. It resurfaced at an auction in Moulins in September 2017, where it was acquired by Parisian gallery owner Éric Coatalem. Under Coatalem's care, the work underwent restoration, scholarly study, and exhibition before finding its way to the German institution. This careful stewardship helped ensure the painting's preservation and proper documentation.
Laurent de La Hyre's most important work on the Assumption theme remains the monumental canvas from 1635, now housed in the Louvre. That larger work, measuring an impressive 425 x 368 cm, was originally commissioned for the high altar of the Capuchin convent church on rue Saint-Honoré in Paris. For many years, this Louvre painting was considered the artist's most famous work, though it may be somewhat overlooked by visitors to the museum today.
The success of the 1635 Assumption significantly boosted La Hyre's Parisian career, leading to prestigious commissions including two "Mays of Notre-Dame" in 1635 and 1637. These were part of the famous series of paintings traditionally offered to Notre-Dame Cathedral each May by the goldsmiths' guild of Paris.
Historical records indicate that La Hyre created two other large altarpieces on the Assumption theme, though both have tragically been lost to history despite their considerable size. One adorned the cathedral of Soissons until World War I, while the other was housed at the Quinze-Vingts hospital until the French Revolution. Both works appear to have been casualties of historical upheavals, representing significant losses to the artist's oeuvre.
This acquisition represents the Städel Museum's continued commitment to expanding its collection of French 17th-century art, complementing its existing masterpieces by Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin. The addition of La Hyre's work provides visitors with a more comprehensive view of this golden age of French painting, showcasing the religious themes and artistic techniques that defined the period.
