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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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Pair of pastel drawings on paper signed, Italian school, 19th century
Jul 17, 4:00 PM CEST
Pair of pastel drawings on paper signed, Italian school, 19th century
by Templum Fine Art Auctions
Est: €1,500- €2,000
€9000 Bids
Zeev Raban
Jul 13, 7:00 PM EEST
Zeev Raban
by Tiroche Auction House
Est: $300- $500
$2000 Bids
19th century European school, pastel on paper of Christ
Jul 17, 4:00 PM CEST
19th century European school, pastel on paper of Christ
by Templum Fine Art Auctions
Est: €800- €1,000
€6000 Bids
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Patrick Mcdowell Original Hand Signed Ink Drawing Valley of Death Framed COA
Jul 13, 10:00 AM EDT
Patrick Mcdowell Original Hand Signed Ink Drawing Valley of Death Framed COA
by KCM Galleries
Est: $800- $1,000
$2500 Bids
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Patrick Mcdowell Original Hand Signed Ink Drawing Angels of Crucifixion Framed COA
Jul 13, 10:00 AM EDT
Patrick Mcdowell Original Hand Signed Ink Drawing Angels of Crucifixion Framed COA
by KCM Galleries
Est: $800- $1,000
$2500 Bids
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Patrick Mcdowell Original Hand Signed Ink Drawing Crucifixion Framed COA
Jul 13, 10:00 AM EDT
Patrick Mcdowell Original Hand Signed Ink Drawing Crucifixion Framed COA
by KCM Galleries
Est: $800- $1,000
$3000 Bids
Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine, 19th century
Jul 15, 2:00 PM CEST
Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine, 19th century
by Bolli & Romiti
Est: €300- €500
€3000 Bids
SYDNEY CARLINE Christ and followers attending to a sick woman charcoal on paper, signed and dated 1922, 44
Jul 16, 11:00 AM BST
SYDNEY CARLINE Christ and followers attending to a sick woman charcoal on paper, signed and dated 1922, 44
by John Nicholson's Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
Est: £40- £60
£350 Bids
ANONYMOUS (19th century) "Abraham and the three angels"
Jul 21, 5:00 PM CEST
ANONYMOUS (19th century) "Abraham and the three angels"
by Ansorena
Est: €75- €150
€500 Bids
Ignacio Dieguez. Christ before Pilate by Munkacsi
Jul 22, 5:00 PM CEST
Ignacio Dieguez. Christ before Pilate by Munkacsi
by Duran Arte y Subastas
Est: €0- €0
€1400 Bids
Paul Gustave Dore ( manner of )
Jul 16, 1:00 PM EDT
Paul Gustave Dore ( manner of )
by OG Collections
Est: $1,200- $2,000
$100 Bids
Fuchs, Ernst: Christus vor Pilatus
Jul 25, 2:00 PM CEST
Fuchs, Ernst: Christus vor Pilatus
by Kunstauktionshaus Schlosser
Est: €50,000- €100,000
€50,0000 Bids
Beautiful 16th century Italian Renaissance drawing with Madonna, circle/manner of Bernardino Luini or Giuglio Romano
Jul 17, 4:00 PM CEST
Beautiful 16th century Italian Renaissance drawing with Madonna, circle/manner of Bernardino Luini or Giuglio Romano
by Templum Fine Art Auctions
Est: €4,000- €4,500
€2,0000 Bids
Doré (Gustave, 1832-1883). The Dream of Pilate's Wife, Claudia Procula, 1879
Jul 16, 10:00 AM BST
Doré (Gustave, 1832-1883). The Dream of Pilate's Wife, Claudia Procula, 1879
by Dominic Winter Auctions
Est: £200- £400
£2000 Bids
Marcel DELMOTTE (1901-1984)., La tentation du christ., Crayon. 1968., Dimensions : 66 x 49 cm.
Jul 21, 1:00 PM CEST
Marcel DELMOTTE (1901-1984)., La tentation du christ., Crayon. 1968., Dimensions : 66 x 49 cm.
by MJV Soudant
Est: €400- €600
€4000 Bids
ARTISTA DEL XVIII SECOLO - The Liberation of Saint Peter
Jul 21, 2:30 PM CEST
ARTISTA DEL XVIII SECOLO - The Liberation of Saint Peter
by Capitolium Art
Est: €600- €800
€6000 Bids
Maratta, Carlo - Umkreis des: Die Heilige Familie mit dem Johannesknaben
Jul 25, 2:00 PM CEST
Maratta, Carlo - Umkreis des: Die Heilige Familie mit dem Johannesknaben
by Kunstauktionshaus Schlosser
Est: €1,500- €3,000
€1,5000 Bids
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Patrick Mcdowell Crucifixtion #14 drawing signed
Jul 20, 10:00 AM EDT
Patrick Mcdowell Crucifixtion #14 drawing signed
by KCM Galleries
Est: $800- $1,000
$2000 Bids
Rembrandt School Old Master Drawing
Jul 16, 10:00 AM CDT
Rembrandt School Old Master Drawing
by Revere Auctions
Est: $1,500- $3,000
$7500 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Religious Drawings


KCM Galleries

KCM Galleries

Templum Fine Art Auctions

Templum Fine Art Auctions

Ansorena

Ansorena

Kunstauktionshaus Schlosser

Kunstauktionshaus Schlosser