Onofrius, from 'Solitudo Sive Vitae Patrum Eremicolarum'
Original title: Onofrius, from "Solitudo Sive Vitae Patrum Eremicolarum"
kurzbeschreibung
An engraving by Johann Sadeler I, made in 1585–86, presents Saint Onuphrius as a hermit. Barefoot and dressed in a garment of leaves, the saint holds a cross. The subject comes from a series on the lives of the desert fathers.
Description
Onuphrius sits at the middle of the image, framed symmetrically by a landscape with trees, a waterfall and a mountain. His long white hair and the plain skirt of leaves stand out; his feet are bare. He holds a cross in one hand, and beside him lie a staff, an egg, a bowl and a book. The print stays monochrome, the light spreads evenly, and the lines are rich in detail.
Context
The series 'Solitudo Sive Vitae Patrum Eremicolarum' was made in 1585–86 and deals with the lives of the desert fathers. Johann Sadeler I, a Flemish engraver, worked in Antwerp and later in Munich and Prague. The series is connected with the growing interest in the eremitic movement during the Counter-Reformation.
Impact
The sheet feels quiet and contemplative, helped by the symmetrical arrangement and the even light. The precise rendering of nature and figure gives the view a fine, almost meditative presence.
Technique
Engraved in copper and then printed, the image works with fine hatching and exact lines. These build dense shadows and a high degree of detail; the impression stays clear and even in tone.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)