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Bishop Saint in Supplication

Pietro Bernardi

1614

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

Bishop Saint in Supplication is a 1614 chalk by Pietro Bernardi, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Pietro Bernardi
When & what style?: 1614 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a bishop kneeling in prayer, his hands clasped tightly. His head is bowed, and his robe drapes around him in loose folds. The background is mostly empty, letting the figure stand out clearly. The artist used only black and white chalk on a blue-tinted paper, which makes the lines look soft but sharp at the same time. The bishop’s posture feels intense, like he’s deeply focused. Next, look up Baroque to see how this style used drama and movement in art.