Patron Saints of Bologna
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Patron Saints of Bologna is a 1518 ink by Jacopo Francia, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows four robed figures standing side by side. The man on the left holds a tall staff topped with a globe and a small model of a building. The woman in the center holds a framed picture of another holy scene. The two men on the right carry long sticks. All have serious faces and are dressed in old-fashioned clothes. The framed picture she holds shows a woman with a baby—likely a common religious image of the time. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, giving the figures a three-dimensional look. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
