'Les Douleurs de la terre'

Photograph of a work by Ary Scheffer, the prime version of which was created in 1847. One of the serval subsequent versions is now in the collection of the Dordrechts Museum, the Netherlands (Inv. no. DM/s/102). The Virgin is depicted seated centrally, facing to the right and gazing upwards. She appears surrounded by various figures included in earlier works by the same artist. The figures in the lower part await deliverance from sins, whereas the ones in the upper part seem redeemed, ascending to the heavens.

Ary Scheffer (and his studio) continued throughout his life to produce new works of old compositions on demand. His paintings were also widely reproduced as etchings.