Caritas (Charity)

Caritas (Charity)

Lucas van Leyden

1530

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a woman holding two children, one in each arm. She’s dressed in a simple, flowing robe, and the kids cling to her. Behind her, a table holds a jug and a bowl, while a dog sits nearby. The lines are sharp and full of texture, especially in the fabric and hair. The word *Caritas* (Charity) is written on the wall—this isn’t a real scene but a symbol. The artist used tiny, crisscrossed lines to build up shadows and depth. Next, check out how engraving works to see how this kind of detail is made.

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