1820
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint John the Baptist Pray for Us is a 1820 ink by French 19th Century, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a tall, robed figure with a golden halo and red-and-yellow stripes around the head, raising one arm while holding a staff topped with a cross. Behind the figure, two smaller people stand near a building with a red roof. Bright blue and red flowers decorate the edges, and the background has swirling clouds and a wavy border. The colors are flat but bold, with lots of red, blue, and gold. The text at the bottom reads *"St Jean Baptiste Priez Pour Nous"* (Saint John the Baptist, pray for us), which ties the figure to Christian imagery. The style looks like it was printed and then colored by hand, giving it a slightly uneven but lively feel. If you like this kind of religious art, check out woodcut to see how it works.
This sculptor liked to keep sharp tools in the studio and blunt ones in his pocket—his niece recalled finding him absentmindedly whittling a stick while talking philosophy.
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