The artwork “A Bedtime Prayer” was painted by Auguste Toulmouche in 1858. This oil on canvas painting belongs to the Academicism movement and is a genre painting, a form of art depicting scenes of everyday life. The artwork measures 73.7 by 59.1 cm and, as of the knowledge cutoff in April 2023, it is located in a private collection.
In the painting, we see an intimate and tender moment between a young woman and a child. The woman is dressed in an exquisite blue gown that billows around her, suggesting a sense of softness and comfort. Her hair is styled neatly, and she has an air of grace and calm about her. She is seated with her hands together in a prayerful gesture, looking down with a gentle, contemplative expression.
The child, likely in a nightdress, kneels beside her on a red cushion, mirroring the woman’s pose with tiny hands pressed together in prayer. The child gazes up at the woman with a look of innocence and sincerity. The scene presumably takes place in a bedroom, suggested by the furniture and bed canopy in the background. The attention to detail in the fabrics and textures, as well as the controlled use of light, showcases Toulmouche’s skill and the stylistic characteristics of Academic art.
