Who painted Un Miracle [A Miracle]?

Un Miracle [A Miracle] was painted by Mosè Bianchi in 1874.

Where can I see Un Miracle [A Miracle]?

Un Miracle [A Miracle] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Un Miracle [A Miracle]?

Un Miracle [A Miracle] is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Un Miracle [A Miracle]

Mosè Bianchi , 1874

Un Miracle [A Miracle] is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Mosè Bianchi. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Un Miracle, executed in 1874, is a print by Italian artist Mosè Bianchi. The work is an etching combined with aquatint, printed on Japanese paper, which gives the surface a distinctive grain and translucency. The composition centers on a solitary, kneeling figure beside a dark pool, his hands lifted in a gesture of prayer, rendered in muted, atmospheric tones.

Subject & Meaning

The solitary figure appears enveloped in shadow, suggesting a moment of contemplation or supplication before a reflective water surface. The ambiguous setting and the figure’s near‑dissolving outline evoke a sense of spiritual yearning or a fleeting encounter with the divine, aligning with the title’s reference to a miracle.

Technique & Style

Bianchi employed the aquatint process alongside traditional etching to achieve soft, watercolor‑like gradations. The aquatint’s granular texture creates a speckled field of tone, while the etched lines fade into blurred edges, especially around the figure, producing the impression of moonlight shimmering on water and the figure’s edges dissolving into the surrounding darkness.

Context

Printed on Japanese paper, the work reflects a 19th‑century interest in Asian materials among European artists, valued for their absorbent fibers that capture ink differently from Western papers. This choice enhances the ethereal quality of the image, allowing the ink to settle unevenly and reinforce the work’s overall mood of quiet reverence.