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Christ and His Disciples III

German 16th Century

1550

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Christ and His Disciples III is a 1550 ink by German 16th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: German 16th Century
When & what style?: 1550 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows three tall scenes framed like church arches. Each panel has a robed figure standing on a platform, holding a long staff and blessing something below. The background is packed with tiny details—buildings, clouds, and smaller people—all drawn with sharp, precise lines. Notice how the figures’ faces are calm but their hands gesture downward, as if they’re performing a ritual. The artist used only black ink on light paper, creating a stark, almost sculpted look. Next, check out how this woodcut technique works.