1507
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Luke Painting the Portrait of the Virgin is a 1507 ink by Hans Burgkmair the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a man sitting at an easel, painting a woman who holds a baby. Behind them, a staircase leads up to a balcony with a curtain and a small figure peeking out. The scene is packed with tiny details—fluffy clouds, swirling leaves, and faces hidden in the columns. Notice how the artist’s hands move the brush while the woman looks down at the child. The lines are sharp, and the whole image is made by cutting shapes into wood. Try looking up woodcut to see how this print was made.
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German artist, born in Augsburg.
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