1495
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Holy Kinship is a 1495 ink by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a crowded scene of figures standing on steps. The people are dressed in bright red, green, and gold robes, with halos around their heads. Some hold hands or gesture toward a central figure seated on a raised platform. The background is filled with blocks of text in a medieval script. The figures look like a mix of saints, family members, and angels—all arranged in a way that suggests they’re part of a holy family tree. The colors are flat and bold, with no shading to show depth. Next, look up how artists made woodcut prints before photography.
This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.
See the richer artist page
![Studies for Six Figures (sheet from a model book) [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/4837429e0755bc3f/thumb.webp)
