" Will You Join Us ? " by Antonio Casanova i Estorach

" Will You Join Us ? " by Artist Antonio Casanova Y Estorach. 1890  

 A master of genre and romantic scenes, the Spanish artist Antonio Casanova y Estorach (1847-1896) became famous for his series of paintings about cheerful monks who are not alien to worldly joys.  His heroes - clerics in cassocks enjoy a comfortable life, indulging in a hearty meal, with a glass of beer and a bottle of wine.  They also look at young women, as in the painting “Will you join us?”.

 Poverty and despair drove the sad and pale girl out into the street with plain wild flowers in the hope of earning money for food.  The eyes of the young flower girl are full of tears of hopelessness.  Two well-fed self-satisfied monks take advantage of the situation and in every possible way court the young lady, seduce her with wine and dishes that look out of the canvas bag of one and the wicker basket of the other.

This story is about the moral choice of the heroine and a kind of rebuke to the clergy, who, hiding behind holy robes and prayer books, act here as a snake-tempter, wanting to pluck and desecrate this delicate, barely blossoming flower at all costs.

"Will You Join Us?" by Antonio Casanova i Estorach. 1890  Canvas, oil.  Size: 26.9 x 35.2 cm. Private collection.