Saint Judas Thaddaeus
1546
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1546
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Judas Thaddaeus is a 1546 ink by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white engraving of a bearded man standing outdoors. He’s holding a long staff in one hand and pointing upward with the other. His robe is loose, and the ground around him looks rocky with a few small buildings in the background. The artist used fine lines and shading to give the figure depth, almost like carving into the surface. This kind of detailed linework is typical of engravings from the time. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists like this created such sharp images.
