Portrait of a Carthusian

Petrus Christus painted ‘Portrait of a Carthusian’ in 1446. The sitter’s identity remains unknown. The use of oil on oak creates a luminous effect. The work measures 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches overall. It is part of The Jules Bache Collection, 1949.

The painting’s surface is smaller than its overall dimensions, 11 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. Christus’s meticulous technique is evident in the detailed rendering of the figure and background.

The portrait is known for its illusionistic fly, painted on the ledge, which adds to the lifelike quality. This detail contributes to the painting’s lasting intrigue.

Christus was active in Bruges from 1444 until his death around 1475. His works were largely unrecognized until the 19th century when art historians attributed them to him.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435896

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