Franz Müller (1843-1929) Portrait of an Unidentified Saint but very possibly Christ P3255

Franz Müller was a painter of religious subjects and of the folk and folkways of 19th century Germany. He was born in Dusseldorf in 1843.  He trained as a historical and portrait painter at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art, where he was educated, among others, by Karl Ferdinand Sohn, Ernst Deger and Eduard Bendemann, who very much influenced Müller in his way of painting.

This is one of four of a series of saints by his hand we have acquired. Each measures 7 3/4" x 9 1/2" and their handsome oak frames are 13 1/2" x 15 3/4".

The back of the frame of this painting has lost its label, so identification of the subject  encourages us to try an educated guess, namely, that the person portrayed is Jesus himself. Three clues have led us to this conclusion.

First, that he is not portrayed as an idealized human, but rather as a very real person, aligns with the temper of this school of religious portrayal, that seeks to identify religion with real people, to bring religious figures closer, to make them as real as the faithful themselves, by the force of this acutely observed and brilliantly executed realism. The son of God, but born a man.

Secondly, there is the choice of color for his robes, red and blue: red is used to represent humanity and the saving nature of the resurrection. It is the color of blood, including the blood of Christ, by which humanity is saved, while blue signifies the heavens, the kingdom of Jehovah and his protection. These colors are often seen in depictions of Mary as well as Jesus.

Thirdly, his gaze is directed downward, as to his adorer, instead of heavenward as is common in paintings of martyrs and saints, and all other worshippers.