Artwork

Sketches in Belgium and Germany, First Series, The Holy Well in the Cathedral of Ratisbon

Sketches in Belgium and Germany, First Series, The Holy Well in the Cathedral of Ratisbon is a print by the Romanticist artist Louis Haghe. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Three people in robes stand near a tall, carved stand with a statue inside.

This drawing shows a fancy church interior. Three people in robes stand near a tall, carved stand with a statue inside. The walls have big arches and thin windows. The floor is stone, and the whole scene looks like a sketch.

The stand holds a statue wrapped in cloth. The artist drew every detail carefully, even the shadows. This was made in 1845 by someone who traveled to draw old buildings.

Next, check out Romanticism to see why artists like this style.

Overview

Created in 1845, this lithographic print presents the interior of the cathedral at Regensburg, focusing on the Holy Well—a sculptural niche surrounded by a tall, carved altar. The composition captures the vaulted arches, slender windows, and stone flooring, populated by three robed figures positioned before the shrine.

Subject & Meaning

The image records a specific liturgical space within the cathedral, highlighting the venerated well and its concealed statue, which is swathed in cloth. The presence of the clerics suggests a ritual context, emphasizing the sacred function of the well as a site of pilgrimage and devotion.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work demonstrates meticulous line work and careful shading to convey depth and texture. The artist’s training in watercolor informs the tonal variations, while the overall effect resembles a detailed sketch, balancing precision with a slightly informal, observational quality.

History & Provenance

The print was produced by Louis Haghe, a Belgian‑born British lithographer who co‑founded the London printing firm Day & Haghe around 1830. Haghe’s reputation for architectural and topographical subjects underpinned the creation of this series of sketches documenting historic European sites.

Context

The image belongs to a broader 19th‑century interest in documenting medieval architecture, a pursuit linked to Romanticism’s fascination with the past. Such works served both scholarly and popular audiences, offering visual records of heritage sites before the advent of photography.