Der Heilige Bonaventura aus Raffaels Disputa 23 - 1823

Curator: At first glance, there is a gentle quality to this drawing. The light pencil strokes create a somewhat melancholic, thoughtful atmosphere. Editor: This is Moritz Daniel Oppenheim's "Der Heilige Bonaventura aus Raffaels Disputa", created between 1823. He extracted this figure of Saint Bonaventure from Raphael’s fresco. Curator: Interesting that he chose to isolate a figure. What drew Oppenheim to this particular saint and to reproducing him in pencil? Editor: Considering Oppenheim was the first Jewish artist to paint scenes of Jewish life, his academic drawings also helped him gain entry into the art world. Drawing from established masters like Raphael signaled his integration into the European artistic tradition, even if his later paintings would be seen as somewhat subversive. He seems to use Neoclassical and realist conventions. Curator: Yes, that makes sense in the context of assimilation. And the choice of Saint Bonaventure—did the saint have any particular resonance? The gaze directed downward does express modesty and scholarship. Editor: Saint Bonaventure was a major medieval theologian, so it could have signaled intellectual engagement and perhaps a degree of introspection that would have aligned with the enlightenment values gaining popularity. The downcast eyes carry a powerful symbol of piety. Curator: It almost has the quality of a study—like Oppenheim was dissecting not just Raphael's technique but also the emotional core of the figure. It makes one wonder what qualities Oppenheim, as a Jewish artist working in that period, identified within this saint. The shadow along his face evokes inner contemplation and personal reflection. Editor: Absolutely. His drawing suggests more than a copy; it is an interpretation through a particular lens. The work certainly exists at the intersection of artistic, religious, and socio-political influences. Curator: This piece really opens up many threads—artistic skill, cultural assimilation, religious identity, psychological reading... Editor: A reminder that a seemingly simple drawing can carry so much historical weight.