Saint Luke Drawing a Portrait of the Virgin
1475
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1475
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Luke Drawing a Portrait of the Virgin is a 1475 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a quiet indoor scene. On the left, a woman holds a baby while sitting near a window with tall, pointed arches. To the right, a robed man kneels, carefully sketching her face with a pencil. Above them, an angel floats near the window, holding a small object. The floor is tiled, and the walls have simple shelves and a small table with a book. Notice how the artist uses fine lines to create shadows and textures—like the folds in the robes or the baby’s soft skin. This kind of detail was new in art at the time. Try looking up engraving to see how artists like this one carved intricate lines into metal to make prints.
