The chaste Suzanne

Henri Frederic Schopin is the son of the famous sculptor Jean-Louis-Théodore Chopin, who worked on the decorations for the Imperial Palace in Saint Petersburg at the request of Catherine II of Russia. In 1821, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied with Antoine-Jean Gros, winning the Prix de Rome in painting in 1831 for Achille poursuivi parle Xanthe.
Married in 1830 to Nathalie-Sophie Dailly (1810 - 1895), he became the son-in-law of actor Armand-Dailly, a member of the Comédie-Française. From 1831 onwards, the painter changed his surname, adding an "S" to distinguish himself from a young, successful Polish pianist named Frédéric Chopin, celebrated by the whole of Paris. King Louis-Philippe commissioned Schopin to paint two great battle scenes, La Prise d'Antioche and La Bataille d'Hohenlinden, for the Muséehistorique de Versailles, inaugurated in 1837. 1860, Napoleon III acquired three works directly from the painter's studio. A large number of his representations were engraved by Jazet, making the painter widely known. Appointed Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1854, he subsequently became a member of the Académie Impériale.

The painting La Chaste Suzanne, also known as "Suzanne et les deux vieillards" or "Suzanne au bain", tells the story of a young woman, Suzanne, who, while taking her bath, is indiscreetly observed by two old men. Faced with the latter's overtures, Suzanne firmly refuses. In revenge, these two ill-intentioned men falsely accuse her of adultery, leading to an unjust death sentence.
However, the providential intervention of the prophet Daniel, whose name means "Divine Judgment" or "God is my judge", proves decisive. Daniel proves Susanna's innocence and succeeds in convicting the two old men, thus restoring justice. This story illustrates Susanna's resilience in the face of injustice, and highlights the precocious wisdom of the young prophet Daniel.

This chapter has inspired many artists, particularly in the fields of painting, sculpture, music, literature and film. This theme was imposed in 1790 and 1933 in the French Prix de Rome painting competition.


Exhibition:
Salon of 1861, n°2843 "La chaste Suzanne" (The chaste Suzanne)