Circa 1830. In The Style Of Granet. A Monk Praying At The Entrance To A Cloister

A large door opens onto the soft light of an ancient cloister; above the door is a fresco depicting a young monk praying before a painting of the Virgin Mary hung above a modest oratory, freshly adorned with flowers; this is an image of tranquility that captivated painters and travelers during their journeys through Italy in the early 19th century. 
Time has stood still; the prayer remains the same, recited by a young Capuchin in the same brown robe of coarse cloth, bathed in soft light beneath timeless vaults.
Even the glass above the door has not changed. 
The painters of the Grand Tour felt this gentle eternity deeply.
François Granet was the one who best captured this sensation. His lifelong friend Forbin, with whom he traveled, drew inspiration from his work. 
These works were in vogue, and many painters followed in their footsteps, painting in this style to capture the effects of light and shadow. 
This painting is very beautifully composed—though admittedly with some stiffness betraying the artist’s probable youth—and is full of charm; the depiction of the Capuchin friar in prayer, as well as the various planes, is sensitive and accurate. 
Painted in the first half of the 19th century, it does not appear to be a copy; it is on its original canvas, mounted on an Italian stretcher, unrestored, and in very fine condition.