The Four Fathers of the Church

Niederländische Grafik 1730–1914,

The image depicts a group of figures, primarily from the waist up. In the center, an elder man with a long, flowing white beard and facial features partially obscured by shadows is wearing a papal tiara adorned with intricate designs. He holds a crosier-like staff in his hand. To his left, another elder figure with a mitre, a beard, and similar facial features leans in close. The figure on the left has bare arms and is muscular, with an attentive posture, resting one arm on a large book. Behind them, a figure in a mitre appears, holding another crosier, and a cherubic being with small wings raises its arms above. The entire scene is sketched with a focus on brown tones on a plain background, with slight architectural elements to the right.
Artist
Niederländische Grafik 1730–1914
Type
Drawing
Medium
pen and black ink with gray and brown wash, heightened with white gouache on brown laid paper
Dimensions
11.1 × 18.2 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

The image depicts a group of figures, primarily from the waist up. In the center, an elder man with a long, flowing white beard and facial features partially obscured by shadows is wearing a papal tiara adorned with intricate designs. He holds a crosier-like staff in his hand. To his left, another elder figure with a mitre, a beard, and similar facial features leans in close. The figure on the left has bare arms and is muscular, with an attentive posture, resting one arm on a large book. Behind them, a figure in a mitre appears, holding another crosier, and a cherubic being with small wings raises its arms above. The entire scene is sketched with a focus on brown tones on a plain background, with slight architectural elements to the right.

Niederländische Grafik 1730–1914