This late-19th-century oil painting by German artist Claus Meyer (1856-1919) depicts a monk in quiet contemplation.
It’s Autumn and the monastery garden is peppered with golden leaves swaying buoyantly amid a light breeze. He observes while sitting in a chair by an open window with a bible resting upon his lap. Is he admiring the beauty of nature, the twisting branches of God’s domain? Or looking forlornly at a world without morals, a place he no longer understands?
Meyer’s exquisite portrayals of passing moments are an homage to the past. He was a keen admirer of Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) and studied his work at length. He painted various scenes within religious environments and this is a fine example of his abundant dexterity. It’s no wonder he later became a professor at the Düsseldorf Academy.
Here, within this evocative rendering of quiet introspection, the stillness of Vermeer is apparent.
Signed/dated in the top right and held within a frame which is probably original. The painting was previously sold through Christie’s in 2000.
Medium: Oil on Board
Overall size: 17” x 21” / 43cm x 53cm
Year of creation: 1897
Labels & Inscriptions: Christie's label on reverse.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £5,368
Claus Meyer trained under August von Kreling at the Nuremberg Art School then later under Alexander Wagner and Ludwig von Löfftz at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich. He became a professor at the Düsseldorf Academy. He’s represented at the British Museum and Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Learn more about Claus Meyer in our directory.
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