An apostle raising his eyes in prayer, in an oval frame, from "Christ, the Virgin, and Thirteen Apostles"

Art Historical Context

This delicate etching, created between 1600 and 1640, portrays an apostle in quiet devotion, his eyes lifted heavenward within an elegant oval frame. Attributed to an anonymous 17th-century artist working in the manner of Guido Reni, the print forms part of the series “Christ, the Virgin, and Thirteen Apostles.” Reni’s graceful Baroque style—marked by luminous figures and emotional intensity—influenced countless reproductive prints like this one, which helped disseminate devotional imagery across Europe during the Counter-Reformation. Measuring just four by roughly three inches, the work’s intimate scale suggests it was intended for personal prayer or inclusion in small albums rather than grand church display. Etching allowed for fine, expressive lines that capture the apostle’s upward gaze and clasped hands with subtle tenderness, emphasizing themes of faith and contemplation central to Baroque religious art. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this sheet exemplifies how prints made sacred subjects accessible beyond elite collectors, inviting viewers to share in the apostle’s moment of spiritual connection.