| The Temple | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Paul Delvaux |
| Year | 1949 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 113.7 cm × 146 cm (44.8 in × 57 in) |
| Location | Private collection |
The Temple (French: Le Temple) is a painting made in 1949 by the Belgian artist Paul Delvaux. It depicts a classical temple building in moonlight, with the head of a statue and several modern objects in the foreground. The painting was made in Choisel outside Paris where Delvaux lived temporarily with his lover and future wife Anne-Marie "Tam" de Maertelaere. It is an oil painting with the dimensions 113.7 cm × 146 cm (44.8 in × 57.5 in).
The Temple's combination of classical elements and modern objects was inspired by the works of the Italian painter Giorgio de Chirico. Critics have discussed how the anachronism creates a connection between the past and present, the significance of the intact temple, and how the painting evokes beauty and poetry. The Temple is in a private collection and was last sold at auction in 2012.