The Quiet Presence of Jakob Kellner Born in 1720, Jakob Kellner lived through a period of profound transition in European art. A German painter, his life followed a trajectory common to many craftsmen of the eighteenth century, moving through the complexities of religious and mythological subject matter. He died around 1775, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the gravity of the era's spiritual and classical interests. His hand was often applied to the most heavy and somber themes of the Christian tradition. He possessed a particular affinity for the dramatic moments of the Passion, c…