1569
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Book of the Law Read before the People is a 1569 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy scene with lots of people on steps and a platform. At the center, a crowned figure in fancy robes holds a book while others listen or gesture. Some people kneel, others stand, and a few look upward. The background has columns and statues, and the whole scene is drawn in black lines with no color. The text at the bottom is in Latin, hinting this might be about a law or a story. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and details, making the figures look three-dimensional. Want to know more about how artists used engraving to create such precise images?
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.
See the richer artist page
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