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Portrait of a Nun Holding Crucifix

Unknown 19th Century

1850

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Portrait of a Nun Holding Crucifix is a 1850 ink by Unknown 19th Century, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown 19th Century
When & what style?: 1850 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white engraving of a woman in a nun’s habit. She holds a small crucifix in her right hand, resting it near her chest. Her face is serious, with simple lines for the eyes and mouth, and her hair is covered by a veil. The background is filled with tight, crisscrossed lines called cross-hatching, which create shadows and texture. The frame looks like it’s made of wood, with a smooth, empty space at the bottom. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists build light and shadow with lines.