Saint Luke

Jean Honoré Fragonard

1762

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Religious

About this work

This sketch shows a bearded man sitting on a rocky outcrop, holding a large book or scroll. Behind him, a small child with wings clings to his shoulder, and a winged figure floats nearby. The lines are loose and quick, with lots of cross-hatching to show texture in the clothing and rocks. The artist used a technique that layers lines to create shadows and depth. This was a common way to make prints look almost like drawings. Check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.