Artwork
Head of Saint John the Evangelist
Head of Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the head of John the Evangelist, a central figure in Christian tradition known as the author of the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation.
The work depicts the head of John the Evangelist, a central figure in Christian tradition known as the author of the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation. Created in 1837 by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, the painting falls within the genre of religious art, focusing on the spiritual identity of the saint rather than a narrative scene. As a portrait of a specific apostle, the subject represents the theological concept of divine revelation and the contemplative nature associated with the Evangelist.
The depiction isolates the head to emphasize the sanctity and inner vision of the figure, consistent with Ingres's approach to religious portraiture during this period.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1837, the Head of Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 39.4 cm in height and 27 cm in width, presenting a religious subject within a compact format. As a study by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, the piece focuses on the depiction of John the Evangelist, utilizing the medium of oil paint to achieve its formal qualities.
History & Provenance
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres executed the oil painting Head of Saint John the Evangelist in 1837. Created on canvas, the work depicts the religious figure John the Evangelist. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the institution's holdings.
No specific details regarding the original commission or the intermediate ownership chain prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available records.
Overview
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres painted Head of Saint John the Evangelist in 1837. This oil painting portrays the revered biblical figure, John the Evangelist, in a moment of introspection. The work is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant example of Ingres's religious portraiture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was a French Neoclassical painter. Ingres was profoundly influenced by past artistic traditions and aspired to become the guardian of academic orthodoxy against the ascendant Romantic…
