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Religious Drawings

Religious artworks are prized not just for their innate aesthetic, but for the religious values that they embody. Early religious drawings have been found dating back to the Neolithic period (circa 6,000 B.C.). Examples of religious drawings abound from ancient Egypt, as artists illustrated deities on papyrus manuscripts and temple walls. Though Islam forbids the depiction of Allah and other prophets pictorially, the religion developed a rich tradition of calligraphy to relate their religious narratives via text.

The development of secular art, which abounds today, is a relatively recent invention in the history of Western art. Until the Gothic period around the 12th century, the majority of visual art produced in Europe portrayed figures and scenes from biblical scriptures. During the Renaissance period, artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael created preparatory drawings before embarking on their immense religious frescoes. While modern fine art generally tends to portray secular subjects, religious drawings continue to be produced today throughout the world in traditions ranging from Christianity to Hinduism.


Quick Facts

  • In 1993, a Michelangelo drawing, "The Holy Family With the Infant Baptist on the Rest on the Flight Into Egypt" sold at Christie's for more than $6 million
  • Religious drawings are executed in a variety of drawing media including ink, chalk, crayon, and pencil. They are collected by the pious and agnostic alike
  • While Impressionist artists are best known for their secular works, artists such as Édouard Manet also created religious drawings including "Three studies of a seated monk"

Recommended Items at Auction

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GAINOTTI LUIGI
Feb 25, 3:00 PM CET
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Winterstein, Erhard Ludwig
Feb 14, 1:30 PM CET
Winterstein, Erhard Ludwig
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JOAQUIN SUNYER DE MIRO (Sitges, Barcelona, 1874 - 1956) "Virgin". Charcoal on paper. Signed.
Feb 19, 4:00 PM CET
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ALFRED OPISSO CARDONA (1907-1980). "Holy Family".
Feb 13, 4:00 PM CET
ALFRED OPISSO CARDONA (1907-1980). "Holy Family".
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Oscar COLBRANDT (1879-1959), pencil drawing Madonna, signed
Feb 15, 11:00 AM CET
Oscar COLBRANDT (1879-1959), pencil drawing Madonna, signed
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Pietro Annigoni (Milano, 1910 - Firenze, 1988) - Madonna (1978)
Feb 14, 3:00 PM CET
Pietro Annigoni (Milano, 1910 - Firenze, 1988) - Madonna (1978)
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Deutsche Schule
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Deutsche Schule
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Entwurf
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Entwurf
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Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein).
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein).
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Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein)
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein)
by Kiefer Buch- und Kunstauktionen
Est: €800- €1,200
€8000 Bids
Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein).
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein).
by Kiefer Buch- und Kunstauktionen
Est: €800- €1,200
€8000 Bids
Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein).
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Hornstain, Gabriel (Hornstein).
by Kiefer Buch- und Kunstauktionen
Est: €800- €1,200
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Giordano, Luca
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Giordano, Luca
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Est: €400- €600
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Ecole toscane du XVIIe siècle
Feb 12, 2:30 PM CET
Ecole toscane du XVIIe siècle
by Artcurial
Est: €800- €1,200
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Castiglione, Giovanni Benedetto
Feb 14, 10:00 AM CET
Castiglione, Giovanni Benedetto
by Kiefer Buch- und Kunstauktionen
Est: €800- €1,200
€8000 Bids
Füger, Heinrich
Feb 14, 1:30 PM CET
Füger, Heinrich
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Est: €2,000- €3,000
€2,0000 Bids
Anonym
Feb 27, 6:00 PM CET
Anonym
by Lehner Kunstauktionen
Est: €100- €200
€500 Bids
Ecole italienne du XVIIème siècle
Feb 13, 2:00 PM CET
Ecole italienne du XVIIème siècle
by HVMC - Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo
Est: €300- €400
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SPANISH SCHOOL (19th / 20th century) "Child (Jesus blessing)"
Feb 25, 5:00 PM CET
SPANISH SCHOOL (19th / 20th century) "Child (Jesus blessing)"
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€1000 Bids
Scuola italiana del secolo XVIII "Natività"
Feb 28, 6:30 PM CET
Scuola italiana del secolo XVIII "Natività"
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Est: €500- €600
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Work on paper, Sandow Birk
Feb 20, 10:00 AM PST
Work on paper, Sandow Birk
by Clars Auctions
Est: $3,000- $5,000
$1,5000 Bids
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Ecole italienne du XVIe siècle
Feb 12, 2:30 PM CET
Ecole italienne du XVIe siècle
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Est: €1,500- €2,000
€1,4000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Religious Drawings


Kiefer Buch- und Kunstauktionen

Kiefer Buch- und Kunstauktionen

Potomack Company

Potomack Company

Capitolium Art

Capitolium Art

Setdart Auction House

Setdart Auction House