1574
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Paul Disputes the Sorcerer is a 1574 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a group of men in robes arguing in front of a temple. Some hold scrolls or point at each other, while others look down or away. In the background, a city with buildings and a fountain stretches out, and a few people walk around. The engraving’s lines create shadows and textures, making the figures look three-dimensional. Notice the man on the right, who seems to be healing a blind person by touching their eyes—a detail that stands out in the chaos. The mix of action and stillness here feels dramatic, like a story unfolding in real time. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists like this used lines to build depth.
Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.
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