Jean-Léon Gérôme was one of the greatest of the French school of the 19th c. Academic Realists. The painting entitled Evening Prayer was believed to be an unsigned, unfinished oil painting in the style or in the manner of the artist Gérôme. This discussion uncovers some of the mysteries of this cradled panel painting in hopes of authenticating this work of art and identifying it in the history of Gérôme's career. Research on the artist's materials and techniques and interpretation of this information in conjunction with technical examination are presented. Analytical methods of examination included reflected infrared photography, x-radiography, microchemical testing and polarized light microscopy. Treatment results are discussed.