Saint Philipp Neri with Cross and Book

About this artwork

Johann Friedrich Overbeck's *Saint Philipp Neri with and Book* (1826) captures the spirit of one of Catholicism's most beloved reformers, Saint Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians known as the "Apostle of Rome" his joyful piety. Rendered as a delicate etching, the work depicts the saint holding a cross and book—symbols of his devotion and scholarly life—evoking a sense of quiet contemplation. Overbeck, a key in the Nazarene movement drew inspiration from early Renaissance masters like Raphael, seeking to revive spiritual purity in art amid the secularism of post-Napoleonic Europe. This etching exemplifies the Nazarenes' commitment to religious themes and meticulous draftsmanship, blending Romantic idealism with medieval simplicity. Overbeck's technique in etching—incising lines into a copper plate with acid—allowed for intricate details in the saint's flowing robes and expressive face, printed on smooth wove paper for crisp reproduction. At just 13.8 × 8.3 cm, the intimate image was ideal for devotional collections, reflecting 19th-century print culture's role in disseminating sacred imagery to the faithful. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this piece highlights Overbeck's enduring influence on German religious art, bridging Gothic revival and modern printmaking traditions.