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Student Artwork Guide

Ruth

Francesco Hayez, 1835

Name Class Date
Francesco Hayez, Ruth (1835). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Francesco Hayez originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/francesco-hayez/
Artist’s dates
1791 – 1882
Painted
1835
Movement
Neoclassicism A deliberate return to the calm balance and clear outlines of ancient Greek and Roman art.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Francesco Hayez died in 1882; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1952.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

Ruth — Francesco Hayez Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Ruth — Francesco Hayez

When was this painted?

  1. 1790
  2. 1800
  3. 1810
  4. 1820
  5. 1830
  6. 1840
  7. 1850
  8. 1860
  9. 1870
  10. 1880

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 91 at death.

Painted when the artist was 44. The artist lived to 91. 44 of the 102 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Francesco Hayez (1791–1882) ▲ this work, 1835 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1827 Main working years: 1827–1852 Late works: from 1852

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/francesco-hayez-ruth-8YDSHL-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Rosy Brown #c0af97

    Catalogued palette

    • #C0AF97
    • #6C4A3B
    • #322522
    • #987A63

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Rosy Brown
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Francesco Hayez over the last twelve months — 32 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 48.1%12,800 visits
    2. 2 United States of America 16.5%4,400 visits
    3. 3 Italy 5.6%1,500 visits
    4. 4 Germany 4.5%1,200 visits
    5. 5 France 2.6%700 visits
    6. 6 United Kingdom 2.3%600 visits
    7. 7 Singapore 2.3%600 visits
    8. 8 Spain 1.9%500 visits
    9. 9 Poland 1.5%400 visits
    10. 10 Colombia 1.1%300 visits
    11. · 22 other countries 13.6%3,600 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Francesco Hayez

    1. 1 Fellatio, or oral sex performed on a man 16.5%6,400 visits
    2. 2 Cunnilingus, or oral sex performed on a woman 13.1%5,100 visits
    3. 3 Sexual intercourse 5.7%2,200 visits
    4. 4 Destruction of Temple of Jerusalem, 1867 5.1%2,000 visits
    5. 5 The Kiss, 1859 4.9%1,900 visits
    6. 6 Cunnilingus, or oral sex performed on a woman 4.1%1,600 visits
    7. 7 Vengeance is Sworn, 1851 2.3%900 visits
    8. 8 The Kiss, 1859 1.8%700 visits
    9. 9 Pope Urban II Preaching the First Crusade in the Square of Clermont 1.8%700 visits
    10. 10 Meeting of Jacob and Esau, 1844 1.8%700 visits
    11. 11 Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, 1867 1.3%500 visits
    12. 12 The new favorite (Harem scene), 1866 1.3%500 visits
    13. 13 Portrait of a Venetian woman, 1852 1.3%500 visits
    14. 14 The Marriage of Romeo and Juliet, 1830 1.0%400 visits
    15. 15 Portrait of Princess Di Sant 'Antimo, 1842 1.0%400 visits
    16. 16 Sicilian Vespers scene 3, 1846 1.0%400 visits
    17. 17 untitled (9958) 1.0%400 visits
    18. 18 Valenza Gradenigo before the Inquisition 0.8%300 visits
    19. 19 The Death of Abradatas 0.8%300 visits
    20. — Ruth, 1835 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 66.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 191 works by this artist, of which 101 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Ruth — Francesco Hayez Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Francesco Hayez

    Born in Venice, Italy

    early life and training

    francesco hayez, a renowned italian painter, was born on february 10, 1791, in venice, italy. his father, giovanni, was of french origin, while his mother, chiara torcella, hailed from murano. the young francesco showed a predisposition for drawing and was apprenticed to an art restorer by his uncle.

    artistic career

    hayez's artistic journey began in 1806 when he enrolled in the new academy of fine arts in milan, where he studied under teodoro matteini. in 1809, he won a competition that granted him a year's study at the accademia di san luca in rome. this exposure to various artistic influences shaped his style, which would later become a hallmark of italian romanticism.

    notable works and style

    hayez's oeuvre is characterized by grand historical paintings, political allegories, and exceptionally fine portraits. some of his notable works include:

    the kiss, considered one of his best works by contemporaries, which has gained esteem over time.

    pope urban ii preaching the first crusade in the square of clermont, a significant piece showcasing his historical narrative style.

    portrait, matilde juva-branca, exemplifying his skill in capturing the essence of his subjects.

    museums and collections

    hayez's works are featured in various museums, including the civica galleria d'arte moderna in milan, which houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art.

    pope urban ii preaching the first crusade in the square of clermont (235 x 157 cm, fondazione cariplo, milan)

    francesco hayez's profile on AllPaintingsStore

    wikipedia: francesco hayez

    legacy and impact

    hayez's influence on italian romanticism is undeniable. his work has been a subject of study for art historians and enthusiasts alike, with his pieces continuing to inspire new generations of artists. key dates: - february 10, 1791: born in venice, italy - 1806: enrolled in the new academy of fine arts, milan - december 21, 1882: passed away, leaving behind a legacy in italian art

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Ruth

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/francesco-hayez-ruth-8YDSHL-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Hayez, Francesco. Ruth. 1835, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/francesco-hayez-ruth-8YDSHL-en/
    APA
    Hayez, Francesco (1835). Ruth [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/francesco-hayez-ruth-8YDSHL-en/
    Chicago
    Francesco Hayez. Ruth. 1835. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/francesco-hayez-ruth-8YDSHL-en/
    Harvard
    Hayez, Francesco (1835) Ruth. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/francesco-hayez-ruth-8YDSHL-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Ruth — Francesco Hayez Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Ruth — Francesco Hayez

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: biblical figure, female form, romanticism. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at The Kiss (1859), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Ruth — Francesco Hayez Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What is the perceived brightness of "Ruth" by Francesco Hayez?

    The perceived brightness of "Ruth" by Francesco Hayez is bright. It can be matched to the light of the intended space.

    In what year was "Ruth" by Francesco Hayez created?

    The creation of "Ruth" by Francesco Hayez is dated 1835.

    How do movement and era meet in "Ruth" by Francesco Hayez?

    "Ruth" belongs to the Neoclassicism movement, and its creator worked in the 19th-Century era.