The Dreamers (2019), acrylic on canvas, 230 x 360 centimeters. All images Marc Padeu, courtesy of Larkin Durey, London, shared with permissionDrawing on Religious Renaissance Art, Marc Padeus Paintings Monumentalize the QuotidianApril 3, 2025ArtKate MothesForegrounding vibrant patterns, swathed in bright fabrics, and illuminated by the sun, the figures in Cameroonian artist Marc Padeus paintings are imbued with beguiling gravitas. His large-scale works stem from a fascination with the power of narrative, connecting the Western art historical canonespecially Renaissance titans like Caravaggiowith contemporary experiences of life in Cameroon.Padeu was trained by the church as a fresco painter. He draws on dramatic biblical stories to juxtapose momentous religious and spiritual accounts with quotidian moments that emphasize Black joy, leisure, family, and fraternity. Au baptme 2 (2024), acrylic on canvas, 200 x 300 centimetersThrough the immediacy of acrylic, Padeu renders figures in everyday yet memorable scenes, whether gathered outdoors to relax, witnessing a baptism, or solemnly coexisting amid vivid surroundings. Many of Padeus paintings take inspiration from Renaissance compositions, like La runion syndicale, which bears hints of da Vincis The Last Supper (1495-1498) or Caravaggios The Supper at Emmaus (1601). Portrayed nearly life-size, the artists tableaux immerse us in rites of passage and moments of togetherness. Find more on the artists Instagram.La runion syndicale (2021), acrylic on canvas, 200 x 280 centimetersLa bague de Roxane (2023), acrylic on canvas, 200 x 280 centimetersAll the light on me (2021), acrylic on canvas, 200 x 338 centimetersLa Balanoire 2 (2025), acrylic on canvas, 200 x 230 centimetersAu pique-nique (2022), acrylic on canvas, 220 x 200 centimetersNext article