Saint Paul before the High Priest

Saint Paul before the High Priest

Philip Galle

1574

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white engraving shows a crowded scene with a shirtless man in the center being dragged forward by guards. Around him, a group of older men in robes and hats watch closely, some pointing or gesturing. In the background, more figures stand on a balcony, while soldiers with spears push through a doorway. The Latin text below hints this is a biblical moment, but the focus is on the dramatic tension in the faces and poses. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and texture, making the scene feel alive despite no color. Check out how engraving works to create such detailed shading.

More by Philip Galle

Artifact World Gallery — 100,000 artworks Get the app