Accession Number
1994/2.30.5

Title
Olivier du jardin de Gethsemané – Olive-tree in the garden of Gethsemane

Artist(s)
Felix Bonfils

Artist Nationality
French (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1867-1885

Medium & Support
albumen print on paper

Dimensions
14 in x 10 15/16 in (35.5 cm x 27.8 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Margaret and Howard Bond

Subject matter
The Garden of Gethsemane, which features prominently into the New Testament life of Christ, appears here like a common, modest country garden attended to by a Franciscan friar. The man, outfitted in a dark robe and white belt, stands with his back to the viewer beneath a massive olive tree. The knotty truck and tangled branches of the tree fill much of the composition. At the friar’s feet, potted flowers and plants of different varieties await the gardener’s attention. This image is one of hundreds of photographs made throughout Bonfils's career which purport to document various landscapes, cityscapes, and people of the eastern Mediterranean. 

Physical Description
A man in a dark robe and white hat stands beneath a large tree surrounded by a number of various potted plants. 

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Franciscan
Olea europaea (species)
cultural landscapes
friars
historic gardens
travel photography