Jehan Georges Vibert (French, 1840-1902) The Marvelous Sauce, ca. 1890 Oil on canvas, 25 x 32" Bequest of Elisabeth H. Gates, 1989

Clerical themes were popular subjects in the late nineteenth century. Scenes such as The Marvelous Sauce, centered in the kitchen, were common in the work of numerous artists, including Jehan Georges Vibert. Each object in the painting is rendered with meticulous clarity, and the scene gives us a glimpse into the life of the upper classes at that time.

The kitchen is dominated by a large iron stove with an elaborate hood and scrollwork. The meat and vegetables on the left are presumably ingredients for a meal. The size of the room, the patterned tile floor, the numerous brass cooking pots, and the fact that there is a cook on staff reflect the wealth of the household, which belongs to the man on the right. He is a cardinal, a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church. The coat of arms on the side of the stove implies that he is also a member of a noble family.

A drama is unfolding in this impressive kitchen. The cardinal himself, wearing an apron over his official red robe, has prepared the sauce in the pot he holds. His exuberant gesture and the look of delight on his face inform the viewer of his pleasure with the creation. The chef, who also has sampled the sauce, is perhaps of a different opinion. It is up to the viewer to complete the narrative.

In spite of the humorous nature of this painting, scenes such as this were not intended solely for entertainment. Vibert and other artists of the time were gently criticizing the clergy. The coat of arms might imply that he was appointed cardinal because of his family’s high social status and not on his own merits. The size of the cardinal and his enthusiasm for the sauce, could imply that he spends more time in the kitchen and dining room than he does in church carrying out his religious obligations.

— Mariann Smith

SUGGESTIONS FOR HANDS-ON AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

• Have children work in teams to write a possible conversation between the cook and the cardinal. Let them practice the lines and then perform the scenario in front of the class.
• Children are very interested in how people lived in the past. Use the painting to discuss nineteenth-century shopping and cooking practices, then expand to other areas—travel (how would the cardinal travel to the country; how would the cook, who is of a lower status?); lighting; occupations (those that are no longer necessary vs. those still prevalent and how these have changed in one hundred years), etc. What were children’s lives like back then?
• Think of a joke or amusing incident to illustrate visually—no words allowed! Draw or paint the funny thing. Write a title using no more than five words.
• The attention to detail in realistic painting is very intense. Folds, wrinkles, lighting are all important in the realistic depiction of an object. Crumple up a piece of paper and draw it as realistically as you can. Use only pencil, and pay attention to shading (chiaroscuro).