L'Inconestase de la Cathedrale de l'Assomption

Art Historical Context

Auguste Lepère's *L'Iconostase de la Cathédrale de l'Assomption* (1883) is a exquisite wood engraving that captures the ornate iconostasis—the elaborately carved screen separating the nave from the sanctuary in Orthodox churches—of the Cathedral of the Assumption. Created during the height of France's fascination with architectural heritage in the late 19th century, this print showcases Lepère's mastery as a printmaker, blending precise line work with evocative atmosphere to highlight Gothic and Eastern Orthodox influences. Wood engraving, Lepère's preferred medium, allowed for intricate details on boxwood blocks, making it ideal for reproducing architectural complexities in fine art prints. A leading figure in the French Realist tradition, Lepère elevated the technique beyond mere illustration, producing portfolios like this one that appealed to collectors. This work reflects the era's revival of engraving as a democratic art form, bridging museums and the public. Acquired through the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund for the National Gallery of Art's collection (Department CG-E, Portfolio classification), it invites visitors to appreciate how 19th-century artists preserved vanishing ecclesiastical splendor amid modernization. A testament to Lepère's eye for texture and shadow, it remains a gem for those exploring printmaking's golden age.

About the Artist

Auguste Lepère · 1849–1918

Auguste-Louis Lepère (1849–1918), son of the sculptor François Lepère, was born in Paris on November 30, 1849, into an artistic family that shaped his early path. At age thirteen, he apprenticed in the Paris studio of the English wood engraver Joseph Burn Smeeton, honing his skills in wood engraving until 1867. He furthered his training with drawing classes under Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran at the...