The artwork, titled “The Cup Found,” created by James Tissot between circa 1896 and circa 1902, is a religious painting rendered in gouache on board. Belonging to the Realism art movement, the piece measures 23 x 17 cm.
In this striking painting, Tissot vividly captures a moment of high tension and discovery with meticulous detail. Central to the scene are a group of men, garbed in traditional attire, gathered in a Middle Eastern marketplace setting. The dramatic focal point revolves around a man who is gesturing with an expression of surprise or dismay, as another figure, perhaps a companion or an official, reveals a cup within a sack tied to a donkey. The background reveals an architectural style consistent with the historical period the scene is likely depicting, further underscored by the agitated expressions and dynamic postures of the figures involved. Through the use of gouache on board, Tissot achieves a sense of realism and emotion that underscores the narrative of discovery and accusation intrinsic to this religious tableau.
