Saint Thomas (?) or Saint Simon (?)

Saint Thomas (?) 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 engraving of a bearded man in a long robe. He stands holding a book or staff, with one hand gripping it and the other resting on his chest. The background shows a simple floor with a few lines, and his halo marks him as holy. The lines in the print create texture—notice how the folds in his robe look almost three-dimensional. This kind of detail was new in the 1400s. Want to see more? Look up engraving to learn how artists like this made prints.

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