Saint Judas Thaddeus (?) or Saint Simon (?)

Saint Judas Thaddeus (?) or Saint Simon (?)

Israhel van Meckenem

1475

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white drawing of a robed man holding a tall cross. His face is serious, with a short beard and a hood pulled over his head. The background has a few faint lines that look like clouds or feathers, and the edges of the paper show some texture. The name "Chadzeus" is scribbled at the top, but it’s unclear if that’s the correct spelling. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and depth, which makes the robe look heavy and real. This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists carve into metal plates to print images.

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