1537
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Justice of Trajan is a 1537 ink by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a group of armored soldiers and a kneeling woman in front of a judge-like figure. The soldiers hold swords and shields, while the woman clutches a child. The judge, dressed in fine robes, leans on a decorated staff. At the top, Latin text fills the frame. Notice the tiny details in the armor and faces—each soldier looks different, even in the tight space. The woman’s desperate grip on her child stands out against the rigid soldiers. Want to see how artists carved these lines? Look up engraving.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
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