Zacharias and the Angel of the Lord
1578
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1578
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a group of people inside a grand stone building with tall arches and a domed ceiling. At the center, an angel stands near an altar holding a glowing object, while a priest kneels with his hands raised. Other figures—some standing, some kneeling—watch the scene closely. The floor is tiled, and the walls have simple decorations. The title at the bottom calls it *Zacharias and the Angel of the Lord*, a biblical story where an angel appears to a priest. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and depth, making the scene look three-dimensional. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one carved detailed images into metal plates.
