Scene 25: Fatally wounded, King Henry III informs the Blessed Abbot of his condition and recommends himself to his prayers

Art Historical Context

In this poignant drawing from 1706–07, French artist Matthieu Elias captures "Scene 25: Fatally wounded, King Henry III informs the Blessed Abbot of his condition and recommends himself to his prayers." Created with masterful mixed media—red chalk, pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, heightened with white over graphite—the large sheet (21 1/8 × 17 1/2 in.) showcases the intricate techniques of early 18th-century draftsmanship. These methods allowed Elias to achieve dramatic depth, subtle tonal gradations, and luminous highlights, evoking the emotional intensity of a historical moment. The scene dramatizes a pivotal episode from the life of King Henry III of France (r. 1574–1589), who was assassinated in 1589 by friar Jacques Clément during the French Wars of Religion. Mortally wounded, the king turns to Reverend Jean de la Barrière, the Blessed Abbot, entrusting his soul to prayer in his final moments. As part of a larger narrative series, this work reflects the era's fascination with royal martyrdom and piety, blending historical accuracy with Baroque expressiveness. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via the Harry G. Sperling Fund in 1992), it invites visitors to ponder the fragility of power and the solace of faith through Elias's sensitive portrayal of masculine vulnerability.

About the Artist

Matthieu Elias|Reverend Jean de la Barrière|Henry III, King of France (French|French) · 1658 |1544 –1741 |1600

French, Peene 1658–1741 Dunkerque|French, Saint-Céré 1544–1600 Rome