Praying Monk
Medium
etching with drypoint on chine collé
Dimensions
plate: 11.3 x 7.6 cm (4 7/16 x 3 in.) sheet: 16.2 x 11.2 cm (6 3/8 x 4 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2005.19.3
Art Historical Context
Johann Friedrich Overbeck (1789–1869) was a founder of the Nazarene movement, a group of German artists who sought to revive the spiritual depth and meticulous detail of early Renaissance and medieval art. Living in Rome as part of a monastic-like brotherhood, Overbeck turned away from neoclassical ideals in favor of religious themes rendered with sincerity and clarity. Created in 1826, *Praying Monk* exemplifies this approach through its quiet depiction of solitary devotion, inviting viewers into a moment of contemplative prayer. The work is an intimate etching with drypoint on chine collé, ...