Saint Bruno 1764

This etching by French artist Jean Bernard Restout depicts Saint Bruno, the founder of the Carthusian order, in a moment of prayer. Executed in 1764, the print shows Saint Bruno kneeling in a dark room, illuminated by a faint light. His head is bowed in prayer, with his hands clasped together. A skull, a symbol of mortality, and an open book are placed on a table to the right, alluding to the saint's life of contemplation. The subtle use of light and shadow creates a sense of tranquility and devotion. The artwork, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, showcases Restout's expertise in capturing the emotional intensity of religious subjects through a detailed and expressive style.