Saint Christopher
1520
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Barthel Beham
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
See the richer artist page1520
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Christopher is a 1520 ink by Barthel Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a bearded man carrying a tall, heavy staff with a strange shape on top. Above him, a small winged figure clings to the staff. The man’s face is sweaty, his muscles straining, and his clothes look old and worn. The ground beneath him is rough, with rocks and a few small plants. The tiny figure on the staff is a cherub—a child with wings, often used in art to represent something holy. The artist used lines to build up shadows and textures, like the folds in the man’s clothes. Look up engraving to see how artists like this one carved their work into metal.
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
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