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Student Artwork Guide

Priestess

Charles Meynier, 1794

Name Class Date
Charles Meynier, Priestess (1794). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Charles Meynier topimpressionists.com/en/artists/charles-meynier/
Artist’s dates
1768 – 1832
Painted
1794
Movement
Neoclassical A deliberate return to the calm balance and clear outlines of ancient Greek and Roman art.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Charles Meynier died in 1832; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1902.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

Priestess — Charles Meynier Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Priestess — Charles Meynier

When was this painted?

  1. 1760
  2. 1770
  3. 1780
  4. 1790
  5. 1800
  6. 1810
  7. 1820
  8. 1830

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 64 at death.

Painted when the artist was 26. The artist lived to 64. 0 of the 19 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Charles Meynier (1768–1832) ▲ this work, 1794 every dated painting, decade by decade

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/charles-meynier-priestess-D7CE4M-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Gray #9a997b

    Catalogued palette

    • #9A997B
    • #C4C197
    • #242928
    • #637061

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Neutrals The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Gray
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Charles Meynier over the last twelve months — 3 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 71.4%1,000 visits
    2. 2 Peru 14.3%200 visits
    3. 3 United States of America 14.3%200 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 15 most looked-at works by Charles Meynier

    1. 1 LE TRIOMPHE DE LA PEINTURE FRANCAISE APOTHEOSE DE POUSSIN, DE LE SUEUR ET DE LE BRUN 11.8%200 visits
    2. 2 Les nymphes de Parthénope, emportant loin de leur rivage les pénates, images de leurs dieux, sont conduites par la déesse des beaux arts sur les bords de la Seine 11.8%200 visits
    3. 3 La naissance de Louis XIV, sujet allégorique 11.8%200 visits
    4. 4 LES NYMPHES DE PARTHENOPE, EMPORTANT LOIN DE LEURS RIVAGES LES PENATES, IMAGES DE LEURS DIEUX, SONT CONDUITES PAR LA DEESSE DES BEAUX ARTS SUR LES BORDS DE LA SEINE 5.9%100 visits
    5. 5 Napoleon in Berlin, 1810 5.9%100 visits
    6. 6 Milo of Croton Attacked by a Lion (study), 1795 5.9%100 visits
    7. 7 Diane, a corpse at his feet: scene of the death of the Niobides, 1794 5.9%100 visits
    8. 8 Warrior on his knees protecting himself from his shield, 1794 5.9%100 visits
    9. 9 Woman standing in front of a tomb, 1794 5.9%100 visits
    10. 10 Muse of tragedy: woman holding a hoop and looking at a mask, 1794 5.9%100 visits
    11. 11 The Muse Erato Writing Verses Inspired by Love, 1797 5.9%100 visits
    12. 12 LA FRANCE SOUS LES TRAITS DE MINERVE PROTEGEANT LES ARTS 5.9%100 visits
    13. 13 Portrait du Général Lemoine 5.9%100 visits
    14. 14 La Sentence de Ligarius Cicéron accuse Catilina devant le Sénat (ancien titre) 5.9%100 visits
    15. — Priestess, 1794 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 39 works by this artist, of which 14 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Priestess — Charles Meynier Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Charles Meynier

    early life and training

    charles meynier, a prominent figure in the neoclassical art movement, was born in paris on november 24, 1768. initially destined for a career as a tailor by his family, meynier's inclination towards the arts led him to apprentice under pierre-philippe choffard, a renowned engraver and artist. this early training laid the groundwork for his future success.

    rise to prominence

    meynier's breakthrough came in 1789 when, as a student of françois-andré vincent, he won the second prize in the prix de rome competition. this achievement granted him membership in the académie de france in rome, further solidifying his artistic credentials.

    notable works and commissions

    marshal ney and the soldiers of the 76th regiment retrieving their flags from the arsenal of inspruck, a piece that garnered significant praise at the paris salon in 1808.

    a series of drawings for bas-reliefs and sculptures to ornament the arc de triomphe du carrousel, paris, showcasing his versatility and skill.

    artistic legacy: meynier's influence on subsequent artists, notably james pradier, is a testament to his enduring impact on the art world.

    legacy and remembrance

    charles meynier passed away in paris on september 6, 1832, leaving behind a legacy of neoclassical masterpieces that continue to inspire. his work can be found in various collections, including those at https://AllPaintingsStore.com, offering a glimpse into the artistic genius of this period. selected works at AllPaintingsStore:

    france triumphant encouraging the sciences and the arts, a painting that marked the beginning of his illustrious career.

    milo of croton, showcasing his mastery of neoclassical subjects, currently on display at the montreal museum of fine arts.

    for more information on charles meynier and his works, visit https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/charlesmeynier. explore the world of neoclassical art and its notable practitioners on wikipedia: charles meynier - wikipedia.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Priestess

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/charles-meynier-priestess-D7CE4M-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Meynier, Charles. Priestess. 1794, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-meynier-priestess-D7CE4M-en/
    APA
    Meynier, Charles (1794). Priestess [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-meynier-priestess-D7CE4M-en/
    Chicago
    Charles Meynier. Priestess. 1794. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-meynier-priestess-D7CE4M-en/
    Harvard
    Meynier, Charles (1794) Priestess. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-meynier-priestess-D7CE4M-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Priestess — Charles Meynier Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Priestess — Charles Meynier

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: ancient greece, greek mythology, priestess figure. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at La terre recevant des empereurs Adrien et Justinien le code des lois romaines dictées par la nature, la justice et la sagesse, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Priestess — Charles Meynier Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Can I watch "Priestess" as a full-screen slideshow?

    "Priestess" by Charles Meynier can be viewed as a slideshow on the artwork's Diaporama page.

    Who is the author of "Priestess", and in which movement?

    "Priestess" was created by Charles Meynier in the Neoclassical style. Artist and movement identify the work's tradition.

    Who created "Priestess" and in what year?

    "Priestess" was created by Charles Meynier in 1794.