DISCOVERART

Jean Honoré Fragonard

Hermit Saint in the Desert

1752/56
Etching on ivory laid paper
21.6 × 14.7 cm (8.5 × 5.8 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The sole Boucher composition to be etched by Fragonard, this work is known to survive in only seven proofs. Possibly depicting St. Onuphrius of Egypt, a hermit who lived around 400 A.D., Boucher's original drawing is now in the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Since Fragonard made most of his twenty-four etchings during his voyages in Italy (1756-61 and 1773-74), this work is unusual for its early date and French inspiration.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Jean Honoré Fragonard

Portrait of a Man in CostumePortrait of a Man in CostumePortrait of a Young WomanPortrait of a Young WomanMarie Emilie Coignet de Courson (1716–1806) with a DogMarie Emilie Coignet de Courson (1716–1806) with a DogThe Two SistersThe Two SistersThe CascadeThe CascadeA Shaded AvenueA Shaded AvenueThe Stolen KissThe Stolen KissRoman InteriorRoman Interior

More like this

An Angel Bringing Food to a HermitJean Honoré Fragonard|François Boucher — An Angel Bringing FSaint LukeJean Honoré Fragonard|Giovanni Lanfranco — Saint LukeThe Rearing of Satyrs' ChildrenMartin Johann Schmidt — The Rearing of Satyrs' ChildrenMercury and Argus, counterproof of copy in reverse after CantariniSimone Cantarini — Mercury and Argus, counterproof of copy iHeavenly Ganymede, from Specimens of PolyautographyHenry Fuseli — Heavenly Ganymede, from Specimens of PolyautoA Woman with her Arms in Chains and Four Other Figures, from CapricciGiovanni Battista Tiepolo — A Woman with her Arms in Chains Ariadne, Cupid and BacchusFrancesco Bartolozzi|Giovanni Battista Cipriani — Ariadne, CA Woman with her Hands on a Vase, Soldier, and Slave, from CapricciGiovanni Battista Tiepolo — A Woman with her Hands on a VaseAllegory with Figures of Hope, Time, and DeathSebastiano Ricci — Allegory with Figures of Hope, Time, and The Vision of Saint JeromeJean Honoré Fragonard|Johann Liss — The Vision of Saint JeroA guardian angel walking with a childSimone Cantarini — A guardian angel walking with a childThe Sheaf BinderJean-François Millet|Jacques-Adrien Lavieille — The Sheaf Bi