Artwork
Saint Luke at His Easel and Four Expressive Heads
Saint Luke at His Easel and Four Expressive Heads is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean-Claude-Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1775 by the French abbé Jean‑Claude‑Richard Saint‑Non, this print combines etching with a brown wash applied to laid paper.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:center left in pen and brown ink: cavaliere celesti / Eglise de St. Jean et Paul a venise; lower center in pen and brown ink: fragonard; by later hand, upper left in graphite: 148
About this work
Overview
Created in 1775 by the French abbé Jean‑Claude‑Richard Saint‑Non, this print combines etching with a brown wash applied to laid paper. It depicts Saint Luke seated at an easel, palette before him, while a winged figure hovers behind. In front of the easel are four distinct heads, each rendered with a different facial expression, suggesting a study of varied human moods.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents Saint Luke, traditionally regarded as the patron saint of artists, engaged in the act of painting.
The central figure represents Saint Luke, traditionally regarded as the patron saint of artists, engaged in the act of painting. The accompanying winged presence alludes to divine inspiration, while the quartet of expressive heads functions as a visual exploration of emotional states, inviting contemplation of the relationship between the artist, his subject, and the spiritual source of creativity.
Technique & Style
The work employs a counterproof etching technique, allowing the artist to reverse the image and achieve a softer line quality. Over this etched framework, a brown wash is applied, creating tonal depth on the textured surface of laid paper. The restrained palette and emphasis on expressive physiognomy anticipate the Romantic interest in individual feeling and interiority.
History & Provenance
Signed and dated by Abbé de Saint‑Non, the print was produced in the late eighteenth century, a period when religious subjects remained popular in French printmaking. It survives in several museum collections, though its original ownership records are sparse, reflecting the modest circulation typical of devotional prints intended for private contemplation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Claude-Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non
Saint-Non, Jean-Claude-Richard, Abbé de (1727–1791) was an artist.
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