The Penitents: Landscape with Sts. Paul and Anthony
1638
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1638
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
The Penitents: Landscape with Sts. Paul and Anthony is a 1638 by Herman van Swanevelt, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This etching shows a quiet forest scene with two men sitting under a tree. One man looks up, the other reads from a book. The trees are thick and dark, with a rocky hillside in the background. A bird flies in the sky, and a small fire burns nearby. The two men are likely saints—one is often linked to desert solitude. The artist used fine lines to show light and shadow in the trees. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and dark contrast.
