Jean François MilletFrench, 1814–1875The Maternal Precaution
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “The Maternal Precaution” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
Details
- Accession number
- 1944.92
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — CC0
In the life of Jean François Millet
The whole life1859
The painting becomes “The Angelus”
When the purchaser failed to take possession of the painting in 1859, Millet added a steeple and changed the initial title, “Prayer for the Potato Crop”, to “The Angelus”.
early 1860s
A contract for 25 works in return for a monthly stipend
At the beginning of the 1860s he contracted to paint 25 works in return for a monthly stipend for the next three years.
1865
The first public showing of “The Angelus”
“The Angelus” was displayed to the public for the first time in 1865; it changed hands several times, increasing only modestly in value, since some considered the artist’s political sympathies suspect.
from 1865
Emile Gavet commissions pastels
In 1865 another patron, Emile Gavet, began commissioning pastels for a collection that eventually included 90 works.
