Artwork
Saint John the Baptist Pray for Us
Saint John the Baptist Pray for Us is an ink print by the Romanticist artist French 19th Century. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This hand-colored woodcut on blue laid paper depicts a religious scene with a central figure and surrounding elements.
About this work
Overview
This hand-colored woodcut on blue laid paper depicts a religious scene with a central figure and surrounding elements. The print features bold, flat colors and a lively, slightly uneven quality due to its manual coloring process.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows Saint John the Baptist, identified by the text 'St Jean Baptiste Priez Pour Nous' (Saint John the Baptist, pray for us), raising his arm and holding a staff with a cross. Two smaller figures stand behind him near a building, set against a backdrop of swirling clouds.
Technique & Style
The print's style is characterized by bold, flat colors, including red, blue, and gold, and decorative elements such as flowers along the edges and a wavy border. The hand-coloring process gives the image a lively, slightly uneven feel.
Artist & collection
Artist
This sculptor liked to keep sharp tools in the studio and blunt ones in his pocket—his niece recalled finding him absentmindedly whittling a stick while talking philosophy.
