Artwork

Liber Veritatis: No. 200, A View on the Sea Shore, with the Story of Jesus

Liber Veritatis: No. 200, A View on the Sea Shore, with the Story of Jesus is a print by the Romanticist artist Richard Earlom. It dates from 1777 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Liber Veritatis No.

Accession no.: 2010.646
Credit line: Gift of John Bonebrake

About this work

Overview

Liber Veritatis No. 200, titled A View on the Sea Shore, with the Story of Jesus, is a print executed in 1777 by the English engraver Richard Earlom. The work belongs to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and presents a coastal landscape in which a biblical episode is woven into the scenery.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a tranquil shoreline populated by figures whose gestures suggest a narrative drawn from the life of Jesus. Rather than foregrounding the religious episode, Earlom integrates it subtly into the natural setting, inviting viewers to contemplate the spiritual story within an everyday environment.

Technique & Style

Earlom employed the chiaroscuro engraving method, using delicate gradations of light and shadow to model forms and convey atmospheric depth. The print’s tonal range creates a sense of distance across the sea and sky, while the fine line work delineates the figures and architectural elements with precision.

History & Provenance

Created as part of the Liber Veritatis series, this print was produced shortly after the original drawings of the series were compiled. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition, though earlier ownership records remain limited.

Context

In the late 18th century, British artists often combined landscape with biblical or mythological subjects, reflecting a taste for moralizing scenes set within idealized nature. Earlom’s work aligns with this trend, merging a serene seascape with a Christian narrative to appeal to both devotional and aesthetic sensibilities.