Artwork
A Young Benedictine Monk Kneeling

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








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