Artwork
Portrait of a Monk
Portrait of a Monk is a tempera painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Corneille de Lyon. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1550, this tempera work by Corneille de Lyon presents a solitary monk in a close‑up portrait. The figure occupies the picture plane, his solemn gaze directed outward, while the surrounding space is left undefined, focusing attention on his facial features and attire.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting achieves fine detail through layered pigment, allowing subtle modeling of the monk’s visage and the texture of his robe. The medium’s quick‑drying nature contributes to the crisp outlines and a restrained palette typical of Corneille’s portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a cloistered religious figure, identifiable by his habit. His serious expression and direct eye contact suggest a contemplative presence, inviting viewers to consider the individual’s spiritual role without narrative distraction.
History & Provenance
The work is part of the collection at the Brooklyn Museum. Its attribution to Corneille de Lyon, a painter active in mid‑16th‑century France known for intimate portraiture, situates the piece within the artist’s broader output of similarly sized, finely rendered figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Corneille de Lyon was a Dutch painter of portraits who was active in Lyon, France, from 1533 until his death. In France and the Netherlands he is also still known as Corneille de La Haye after his birthplace, The Hague.
