Asceticism Collection

Hindu Sahdus near Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Two Sadhus pose for a photograph on a road near Orchha, Madhya Pradesh Province, India. In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi)

A Sleeping Dervish, 1650. Found in the Collection of State Oriental Art Museum, Moscow

Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1617), circa 1670
Saint Rose of Lima (1586-1617). Christian mystical religious, member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. Portrait by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682), circa 1670. Detail

Fray Luis de Leon (1527-1591). Spanish poet
Fray Luis de Leon (Belmonte, 1527-Madrigal de las Altas Torres, 1591). Spanish poet. Portrait. Illustration by Llanta. Lithography. Cronica General de Espana

Vision of Saint Romuald, c. 1631 (oil on canvas)
868074 Vision of Saint Romuald, c.1631 (oil on canvas) by Sacchi, Andrea (1599-1661); 310x175 cm; Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City; (add.info.: Romuald (c.951 - 19 June, c.1025/27)

A Holy Hermit (oil on canvas)
868057 A Holy Hermit (oil on canvas) by Muziano, Girolamo (1532-92); Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City; (add.info.: Un santo eremita); Photo © Stefano Baldini

The Five Siddhas Make Their Way to the Kailasha Mountains, c. 1820 (opaque w / c on paper)
874009 The Five Siddhas Make Their Way to the Kailasha Mountains, c.1820 (opaque w/c on paper) by Purkhu (fl.c.1790-1820); 36.2 x49.1 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

Saint Jerome, 1644 (etching)
874669 Saint Jerome, 1644 (etching) by Bol, Ferdinand (1616-80); 28.58 x24.77 cm; San Diego Museum of Art, USA; (add.info.: Saint Jerome (c.aO347-420), Christian priest

Detail from A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c. 1650 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874402 Detail from A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c.1650 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 16.4 x12 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

The Vision of St. Jerome, c. 1660 (oil on canvas)
491411 The Vision of St. Jerome, c.1660 (oil on canvas) by Langetti, Giambattista (1625/35-1676); 200.2x149.2 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH

A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c. 1650 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874403 A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c.1650 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 16.4 x12 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

An Ascetic in his Cell (engraving)
655710 An Ascetic in his Cell (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: An Ascetic in his Cell)

Tibetan Bacsi (engraving)
3629381 Tibetan Bacsi (engraving) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tibetan Bacsi. Illustration for The Book of Ser Marco Polo)

Mahavira gives away all his possessions and renounces the world
874168 Mahavira gives away all his possessions and renounces the world, (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (15th century); 10.9 x7.8 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

St. Jerome Praying: Arched Print, 1632 (etching & drypoint)
1068212 St. Jerome Praying: Arched Print, 1632 (etching & drypoint) by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-69); 11x8 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; (add.info.: Saint Jerome (c.347-420), priest

St. Jerome Praying: Arched Print, 1632 (etching)
1069893 St. Jerome Praying: Arched Print, 1632 (etching) by Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606-69); 11x8.1 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; (add.info.: Saint Jerome (c.347-420), priest

Two sages in discussion in a landscape, c. 1785 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874028 Two sages in discussion in a landscape, c.1785 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (18th century); 21 x28.8 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

Pilgrims visiting St Jerome in the wilderness (pen & brown ink on white paper)
615271 Pilgrims visiting St Jerome in the wilderness (pen & brown ink on white paper) by Campagnola, Domenico (fl.1517-62); 27.5x34.9 cm; eThe Devonshire Collections

Tidings of the Eagle, 1927 (tempera and oil on panel)
5642634 Tidings of the Eagle, 1927 (tempera and oil on panel) by Roerich, Nicholas (1874-1947); 31.7A--41 cm; Nicholas Roerich Museum, New York; eNicholas Roerich Museum; Russian, out of copyright

The penance of St John Chrysostom, 1496 (Burin engraving)
5890625 The penance of St John Chrysostom, 1496 (Burin engraving) by DAorer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528); 18.4x12 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Antoine Singlin, c. 1646 (oil on canvas)
5242289 Antoine Singlin, c.1646 (oil on canvas) by Champaigne, Philippe de (1602-74); 79.1x65.1 cm; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

A Pilgrimage of the Mind, c. 1800 (opaque w / c on paper)
874488 A Pilgrimage of the Mind, c.1800 (opaque w/c on paper) by Indian School, (19th century); 14.13 x22.7 cm; San Diego Museum of Art, USA; (add.info.: A Shaivite ascetic, seated on a rug)

One Holy Man Comes Visiting Another, 1700-25 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874428 One Holy Man Comes Visiting Another, 1700-25 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (18th century); 19.21 x9.68 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

A Wandering Sadhu, c. 1900 (opaque w / c on paper)
874044 A Wandering Sadhu, c.1900 (opaque w/c on paper) by Lal, Chajju (fl.1900); 23.2 x17.5 cm; San Diego Museum of Art, USA; (add.info)

practice asceticism
Shinji Isobe

Nan va Halva (Breads and Sweets), ca. 1690. Creator: Unknown
Nan va Halva (Breads and Sweets), ca. 1690

A Gathering of Holy Men of Different Faiths, ca. 1770-75. Creator: Mir Kalan Khan
A Gathering of Holy Men of Different Faiths, ca. 1770-75

The Happy Ascetic, 1724, and Leveridges Songs, 1727, (1809), (1827). Creator: Thomas Cook
Frontispiece to the Happy Ascetic, 1724, and Frontispiece to Leveridges Songs, 1727, (1809), (1827). Illustrations published in " The Happy Ascetick

The Dervish Dance, 19th century. Found in the Collection of State Oriental Art Museum, Moscow

A Standing Dervish. Artist: Muhammad Muhsin (active Mid of 17th cen. )
A Standing Dervish. Found in the collection of The David Collection

Saint Onuphrius. Artist: Ancient Russian frescos
Saint Onuphrius. Found in the collection of Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kiev

Saints Simeon Stylites the Elder, Simeon Stylites the Younger and Alypius the Stylite, 1378. Found in the collection of the Church of the Transfiguration on Ilyina Street, Novgorod

Saint Symeon the Stylite with Scenes from His Life, 16th century. Artist: Russian icon
Saint Symeon the Stylite with Scenes from His Life, 16th century. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Saint Daniel Stylite. From the Deesis Range, 16th century. Artist: Russian icon
Saint Daniel Stylite. From the Deesis Range, 16th century. Found in the collection of the Nativity of Virgin Cathedral in the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Kirillov

Saint Onuphrius, 1670s. Artist: Russian icon
Saint Onuphrius, 1670s. Found in the collection of the State Open-air Museum Kolomenskoye, Moscow

A Fakir, 1874-1876. Artist: Vereshchagin, Vasili Vasilyevich (1842-1904)
A Fakir, 1874-1876. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Dervish, Early 17th cen Artist: Iranian master
Dervish, Early 17th cen.. Found in the collection of the State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

INDIA. Ellora. Ellora Caves. Ellora. Cave 33. Jain Temple of Jagannath Sabha, 9-10th c. Sculpture of two seated tirthankaras. Hindu art. Architecture

Saniassi sannyasin believer living poverty asceticism
Saniassi, A Saniassi (sannyasin), a believer living in poverty and asceticism, Signed: P. Sonnerat pinx, Poisson sc, pl. 68, after p. 256 (vol. 1), Sonnerat, Pierre M

Dervish Leading a Bear, Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, recto: ca. 1630-40; verso: ca. 1530-40

Diogenes of Sinope, Greek philosopher
Diogenes (412 BCE - 323 BCE), Greek philosopher. Diogenes was born at Sinope in modern-day Turkey. Educated as a banker, he was exiled for defacing currency and moved to Athens

A Sadhu smoking a remarkable pipe, India
A Sadhu (Indian ascetic holy man) smoking a remarkable curvy pipe

Asia, Nepal, Kathmandu, Kathmandu Valley, Durbar Square, Sahdu

Luis Granata
LUIS (Aloysius) GRANATA Spanish Dominican churchman, writer on asceticism, of which he was in favour. Date: 1504 - 1588

Etienne Binet
ETIENNE BINET French Jesuit, writer on asceticism. Date: 1569 - 1639

France (1588). Assembly of the General States (29-II-1588). Engraving. FRANCE. Ό E-DE-FRANCE. Paris. National Library

Fakirs in India
Fakirs (Muslim Sufi ascetics) in India, some with whitened faces. Date: circa 1890s

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Asceticism, a practice embraced by many throughout history, is exemplified in various forms of art and literature. From the devout Saint Rose of Lima to the contemplative Fray Luis de Leon, ascetics have left their mark on different cultures and time periods. In 17th century Spain, Fray Luis de Leon's poetic verses captured the essence of asceticism. His words resonated with those seeking spiritual enlightenment and renunciation of worldly pleasures. Similarly, Saint Rose of Lima's life as an ascetic nun inspired many with her self-imposed penances and dedication to God. Traveling eastward to India, we encounter the Ellora Caves where Cave 33 showcases Jain asceticism. The intricate carvings depict austere practices undertaken by Jains in pursuit of liberation from earthly desires. Artworks such as "Vision of Saint Romuald" and "A Holy Hermit" further illustrate the solitary nature of asceticism. These paintings portray individuals who have withdrawn from society to focus solely on their spiritual journey. The Five Siddhas' pilgrimage towards the Kailasha Mountains symbolizes another facet - seeking divine wisdom through physical endurance and meditation. Their arduous journey serves as a reminder that true enlightenment requires sacrifice and perseverance. Saint Jerome's etching captures his disciplined lifestyle as he devoted himself to study and prayer in solitude. Meanwhile, "A Dervish Seated in Contemplation" presents a serene image depicting a Sufi mystic lost in deep thought – an embodiment of inner reflection sought after by many practicing ascetics. "The Vision of St. Jerome" painting portrays yet another aspect: visions experienced during intense moments of devotion or meditation. These mystical encounters often serve as catalysts for further spiritual growth among practitioners. Lastly, engravings like "An Ascetic in his Cell" offer glimpses into the humble living conditions chosen by these dedicated individuals.