Saint John or Saint in Wilderness

Art

Historic Charleston Foundation

Name/Title

"Saint John" or "Saint in Wilderness"

Entry/Object ID

98.5.2

Description

"Saint John" or "Saint with Book," oil on canvas, probably Italian, 17th - 19th century. Painting shows a robed figure sitting on a rock, reading a book. A shepherd and a flock of sheep are in the middle ground behind the central figure. Mountains are shown on left and central section of the painting. There are palm trees on the left side. There is a light blue sky with large white cloud formations. Frame: Boxed rectangular wood frame with plaster. Part of Governor William Aiken's Art Collection, probably purchased in Europe in the 1830's. Appears to be the mate of AZ 2351. Owned by Francis Dill Rhett prior to its donation to the Charleston Museum.

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil on Canvas

Collection

Historic Charleston Foundation Collection

Acquisition

Accession

98.5.

Source or Donor

The Charleston Museum

Acquisition Method

Transfer

Credit Line

The Charleston Museum, gift of Mrs. Frances Dill Rhett

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Other Number

AZ 2350

Dimensions

Height

17-1/8 in

Width

30 in

Dimension Notes

Frame: H: 23.5" W: 36.25" D: 2.75"

Location

Room

303

Building

Nathaniel Russell House

Moved By

Jill Beute Koverman

Date

July 25, 2002

Location

Building

AR 109

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Notes

Stretcher and keys are early 19th century. Visable canvas on front is coarser grained than the relining canvas. Wood strips nailed to stretcher. Much of the gilt on the frame is missing.

Provenance

Notes

Collected By: Gov.William Aiken,probably purchased in Europe in the 1830's Last Owner: Francis Dill Rhett prior to donation to Charleston Museum

Exhibitions

Exhibition

Notes

Exhibit Start: 2004-06-07

General Notes

Note

Notes: photo, donation info, catalog sheet needed treatment estimate by Catherine Rogers, 9/9/02 was $3,000.00

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

July 1, 2002

Updated By

museumsintern@historiccharleston.org

Update Date

July 14, 2025