Theodoros Ralli

Ralli's gift for the depiction of uniquely Greek genre scenes is embodied in this gently humorous image. This thought-provoking while amusing scene illustrates a pious young woman wearing colourful clothing, exhibiting human weakness by falling asleep within a cloistered monastery. A passing monk stares disapprovingly at her as several pass, wearing the heavy, sombre robes of their calling. Ralli thus demonstrates the interaction and overlap between the secular and the temporal in Greek society of the time, while poking gentle fun at the characters within the scene.

The quality of light and detail is exceptionally fine in the present work, with Ralli's careful modelling giving the young girl a distinctly sculptural quality as she leans on a carved stone throne. The loose brushstrokes of the background add to the mystery and ambiguity of such surroundings, as the most distant monks seem to melt into their environment. The glowing tones of the somnolent young girl's garments and her embroidered back stand out jewel-like from her subdued setting, giving her a material quality that reinforces the dichotomy of the theme.