This beautiful portrait of a monk is painted by the famous Belgian artist Constantin Meunier (1831- 1905). He stayed many times over a period of fifteen years at the famous Cistercian Westmalle Abbey.
This introspective painting announces the simplification of the features that we’ll find in his sculptural work later on.
It might seem surprising to us to find this intimate painting in an extremely elaborate, made to measure, neo-« Régence », all-carved wooden frame. It might not be today’s taste but it is original to the work. Taste changes.
