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Saint Barbara

Master S

1502

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Saint Barbara is a 1502 ink by Master S, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Master S
When & what style?: 1502 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This picture shows a woman holding a tower with three windows. She’s dressed in flowing robes and has a halo. Above her head, a smaller scene shows two people under an arch. The background has fancy columns and decorations. The tower she holds is a clue—it’s a symbol for Saint Barbara. This kind of detailed drawing was made by cutting lines into metal and inking them. Look up engraving to see how this technique works.