Artwork

A Young Benedictine Monk Kneeling

A Young Benedictine Monk Kneeling, by Jean Leonard Lugardon, chalk, 1824
A Young Benedictine Monk Kneeling, by Jean Leonard Lugardon, chalk, 1824

A Young Benedictine Monk Kneeling is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist Jean Leonard Lugardon. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

A Young Benedictine Monk Kneeling is a drawing created by Swiss artist Jean-Léonard Lugardon in 1824. Executed in black chalk with white chalk highlights on blue-gray wove paper, the work captures a moment of religious devotion.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing portrays a youthful Benedictine monk in a kneeling position, hands clasped and gaze uplifted, conveying serenity and devotion. The composition invites contemplation, emphasizing the subject's peaceful, introspective state.

Technique & Style

Lugardon employed black chalk for the primary rendering, supplementing with white chalk to achieve subtle highlights. The blue-gray paper serves as a muted backdrop, enhancing the overall sense of quiet reflection characteristic of the piece.

History & Provenance

Created in 1824 by Jean-Léonard Lugardon (1801-1884), a Geneva-born artist primarily active in his native city, known for portraits, historical, and genre scenes.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jean Leonard Lugardon

Artist

Jean Leonard Lugardon

Jean-Léonard Lugardon (30 September 1801, in Geneva – 16 August 1884, in Geneva) was a Swiss painter of portraits, historical scenes and genre pieces.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.