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Assembly of Four Kings, in the foreground Four Men

Leonhard Beck

1515

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Assembly of Four Kings, in the foreground Four Men is a 1515 ink by Leonhard Beck, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Leonhard Beck
When & what style?: 1515 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut shows four kings standing on a rocky base, each holding a staff or scepter. Behind them, three more crowned figures stand in a doorway, looking down. The lines are sharp and detailed, with lots of swirls in their robes and crowns. The kings in front are smaller and dressed simply, while the figures behind them are larger and more ornate. This might show a hierarchy or a story about power. Next, look up woodcut to see how this printmaking technique works.

About the artist

Artist

Leonhard Beck

Leonhard Beck (c. 1480 – 1542) was a painter and woodcuts designer in Augsburg, Germany. He was the son of Georg Beck, a miniaturist who was active in Augsburg c. 1490–1512/15. Leonhard collaborated with his father on…

See the richer artist page