Who painted The Disciples at the Tomb?

The Disciples at the Tomb was painted by Jean Honoré Fragonard in 1764.

Where can I see The Disciples at the Tomb?

The Disciples at the Tomb is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Disciples at the Tomb?

The Disciples at the Tomb is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Disciples at the Tomb

Jean Honoré Fragonard , 1764

The Disciples at the Tomb 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.

About this work

Overview

Jean‑Honoré Fragonard’s 1764 etching titled The Disciples at the Tomb presents a small group of figures gathered around a tomb. Rendered on laid paper, the composition is dominated by a dark background that recedes into shadow, while a gentle, diffused illumination highlights the central figure reaching toward the stone.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a moment of quiet reverence, suggesting the biblical scene of disciples confronting the empty tomb. The gestures and subdued expressions convey contemplation rather than drama, inviting viewers to consider themes of loss, hope, and the mystery surrounding the resurrection narrative.

Technique & Style

Fragonard employed the etching process, incising lines into a copper plate before printing onto laid paper. His handling of chiaroscuro—contrasting deep shadows with a soft, ethereal light—creates a sense of spatial depth and emphasizes the central figure. The delicate line work and tonal gradations reflect the artist’s late‑Rococo sensibility moving toward Romantic introspection.

History & Provenance

Created in 1764, The Disciples at the Tomb is among Fragonard’s relatively few prints, a medium he explored alongside his more familiar oil paintings. The etching entered several private collections in the 19th century before being acquired by a European museum, where it remains part of the print department’s holdings.