Saint Anthony of Padua
Medium
etching on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to platemark): 15 × 11.2 cm (5 7/8 × 4 7/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1972.65.23
Art Historical Context
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Guercino, created this intimate etching of Saint Anthony of Padua in the 1630s during the height of the Italian Baroque period. The saint, a beloved Franciscan preacher and miracle-worker, is depicted with quiet reverence, his expressive face and flowing robes rendered through delicate, fluid lines. Guercino’s dynamic style, marked by dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, brings emotional depth to this small devotional image, inviting viewers into a moment of spiritual reflection. As an etching on laid paper, the work highlights the artist’s skill in a ...