Portrait of a praying nun (ca. 1771, Met-Objekt 1286)
Original title: Portrait of a praying nun
kurzbeschreibung
An etching from around 1771 by Carl Guttenberg presents a nun in profile, her hands clasped in prayer with a rosary resting between them. The artist keeps the background dark, allowing the figure to stand out sharply. At the lower edge of the sheet, a text field identifies the collection of the Duke of Choiseul.
Description
The nun is seen in side profile, her head slightly bowed and her eyelids closed. A white headcloth closely frames her face, and beneath it she wears a black robe. In front of her chest, her folded hands hold a rosary. The dark, unadorned background makes the figure emerge clearly. An inscription at the bottom refers to the cabinet of the Duke of Choiseul.
Context
The German engraver Carl Guttenberg worked in Paris. Around 1771, when religious subjects were common in printmaking, this sheet was created. The inscription suggests it was made for the collection of the Duke of Choiseul, an influential French statesman and art collector. Devotional images of praying nuns were highly popular at the time.
Impact
The calm posture and dark background give the print a contemplative, reverent mood. The delicate linework creates an intimate, quiet atmosphere. The viewer is encouraged toward inner reflection.
Technique
For this etching, the drawing was scratched into a wax layer on a copper plate and then bitten with acid. The fine lines produce detailed textures, for example in the clothing and the headcloth. The sheet measures 18.5 × 13.5 cm, trimmed.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)