Explore the Exhibition of this artwork, The Ray (Chardin).
On 3 June 1728, the painting was first shown at the Exposition de la Jeunesse, a free open air exhibition held for a few hours at the corner of the Place Dauphine and the Pont Neuf each year on the day of Corpus Christi (but postponed in the event of rain to Sunday after the end of the octave, Little Corpus Christi or Petite Fête-Dieu).
On 25 September 1728, Simeon Chardin exhibited the painting and The Buffet as his reception pieces to the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. Both works remained with the Academy until the French Revolution, when they were moved to the new Muséum Central des Arts, now the Louvre.
reception piece Exposition de la Jeunesse Pont Neuf Corpus Christi The Buffet Place Dauphine Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture Louvre octave