Friday, 25 July 2025

Friday Face OFF -- "Monk"

For this week's Friday Face OFF link party
of art featuring faces, hosted by Nicole of

In 1974 when I was in high school,
I sketched this monk's head in blue pen
on a little pad of pink newsprint.

I copied it from an original 17th century
Italian drawing which was part of
a small touring art exhibition
at a local community art gallery.

I was so taken by the original that
I had to try drawing it myself while
I stood in front of it. I hadn't come
prepared to do so, which is why my
art supplies were so unorthodox.


The artist was an Italian Baroque painter
named Guido Reni (1575-1642).

I think his best painting is
Saint Matthew and the Angel
which he painted near the end of his life.

I love the rapt intensity of Saint Matthew's face
and his direct eye contact with the angel who is
telling him the points he should cover in his gospel.
It's a very intimate depiction of the process of inspired creation.


And I like the triple illumination of
brilliant white light on Matthew's hair,
the angel's shoulder, and the manuscript.
It evokes the doctrine of the Trinity, I think.

I also like the warm spotlight on the saint's heart.

37 comments:

  1. You did an admiral job. I love the Old Masters paintings-there is just so much depth (and sometimes intensity) in them. Have a wonderful weekend! xo Diana

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  2. ...and with quite the eye laces.

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    1. @ Tom -- Yeah, LOL, my propensity for giving men dreamy eyelashes started early.

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  3. That was the first thing I noticed too...the eyelashes! Biancia Del Rio double stacked lashes I dare say.

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  4. Wow!!!! They might be unorthodox supplies but you still blew me away with this drawing. Have a super weekend!

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  5. He is a handsome man and you did the excellent drawing 👍🤩

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  6. I think you did a great job with the materials at hand. And I love Reni's painting.

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  7. The monk as heart throb.

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  8. Nice sketch . It's amazing you remembered the artist.
    And its a charming painting. as you say the white light is amazing, even reflecting back on his nose.
    😊

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    1. @ Liam Ryan -- I made a point to write the artist's name on the back of the sketch because I'd never heard of him at that time.

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  9. I like this one best of all the human subject sketches you've shown us... too bad you hid your light under a bushel for fifty years before letting it shine again!

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    1. @ Tundra Bunny -- Well, there was that pesky matter of having to earn a living, what can I say?

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  10. All things awesome with this post, Debra. Your monk drawing from high school is impressive and I appreciate you sharing all of your insight about the Saint Matthew. Thank you for sharing.

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  11. You did that drawing in HIGH SCHOOL?
    Talent. In high school I could only think about the boys in tenth grade and what pants to wear on Friday. Very nice.
    And I LOVE that monk!!

    XOXO

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  12. Wow! ~ Awesome portrait of the monk ~ thanks,
    an artist reflects

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  13. Wow, that is a great job you did!

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  14. Whoa! That is a phenomenal painting and i love it even more after reading your perspective. I had not noticed the light on his heart... it is not at the same angle as the rest of the light in the painting, and that makes it even more beautiful!

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  15. A lifelong talent, clearly. I'm so glad you share your art with us. And, I too admire the swoony eyelashes!
    That Guido Reni masterpiece is stunning. Thank you for your informed interpretation that adds to the appreciation.

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  16. I'm not familiar with this Artist or his painting, which I love. I'll certainly be looking into more of his paintings.

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  17. Your ink drawing is fantastic! So much expression! The painting of the artist whom I'm not familiar with is amazing as well, especailly after I really paid attention to the little details you mentioned. Such beautiful work.

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  18. Hello Debra, I sense a post-retirement career for you as an art forger.
    --Jim

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  19. Wow, what a fantastic drawing, very nice indeed.

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  20. So you were born with this amazing talent of yours. It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing with FFO and have a great weekend.

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  21. "1974 when I was in high school" 1974? Your just a kid!

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  22. You were a talented artist from early on, Debra! The monk is striking. I wonder what he was thinking. He looks very sure of himself and his place in the world. "Saint Andrew and the Angel" is full of the color and light that my mother loved so much in paintings of this time. The eye contact between the two is so intense that it almost overrides the gorgeous triad of rich white light. Even the quill and the angel's arms pull you into that connection. Thanks for sharing!

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  23. This is absolutely stunning. Most impressive talent.

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  24. Un trabajo muy bueno, me gustó mucho. Enhorabuena tienes arte. Un abrazo y feliz fin de semana

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  25. Codex: Like the ballpoint sketch. Triangular compositions draw the eye. Religion turned it into trinity.

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  26. Great post. I love his fingers telling days he lived.

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  27. You already showed your talent and touch back then. Guido Reni’s portraits were so expressive.

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  28. looks like he's adding to his weekly shopping list..... and the kid's telling him.... "don't forget the honey cheerios!"

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  29. Thanks for introducing me to Guido Reni, I'd not seen his work.

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