Ephraim Bonus
1652
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1652
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Ephraim Bonus is a 1652 by Jan Lievens, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a bearded man in a long robe, sitting with one arm resting on a round object. His face is wrinkled, and he holds a small book or paper in his left hand. The background is plain, focusing all attention on his serious expression and the folds of his clothing. The text below names him as "D. Ephraim Bonus, Medicus Hebraeus," meaning he was likely a Jewish doctor. The artist carved fine details into the lines, making the fabric look almost three-dimensional. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
