Schism
Painted
in 1874 this 15 x 21 1/8 inch painting is one of the most often reproduced
of the Vibert paintings.
The
scene is set in the reception room of a rich monastery hung with old tapestries,
and features a tall bald jovial abbot on the left, and a his companion
the cardinal, a small sallow man long grey hair. After a hearty lunch
with much wine, the cardinal on the right has toasted a lifelong abbot
bishop friend. However the effects of the wine begin to kick in and they
end up bickering over an old theological dispute. So the reference books
come out of the library and unable to agree, with one impulse, both falling
back into their armchairs, remain seated back to back without speaking
another word !
