Artwork
Saint Luke
Saint Luke is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean Honoré Fragonard. It dates from 1764 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1764, this etching on laid paper is attributed to the French artist Jean‑Honoré Fragonard.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1764, this etching on laid paper is attributed to the French artist Jean‑Honoré Fragonard. Though modest in dimensions, the work presents a lively composition that captures a moment of devotional intensity through its energetic line work.
Subject & Meaning
The figure depicted is a bearded, curly‑haired man identified as Saint Luke, shown seated upon a craggy ledge. He holds a book and a scroll, traditional symbols of his role as an evangelist and chronicler. Above him, a winged being hovers amid clouds, reinforcing the celestial context of the saint’s narrative.
Technique & Style
Fragonard employed the etching process, allowing ink to accumulate in the deepest grooves for pronounced shadows and a sense of volume. The lines remain loose and sketch‑like, conveying movement and immediacy, while the contrast between light and dark enhances the dramatic atmosphere of the scene.
History & Provenance
The print emerged during the mid‑eighteenth century, a period when Fragonard was primarily known for his Rococo paintings. This religious work reflects a lesser‑explored facet of his output, though details of its early ownership and exhibition history remain scarce.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was born on 5 April 1732 in Grasse, the son of a glover, and moved with his family to Paris in 1738.
