1482
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saints Thomas and James the Less is a 1482 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows two serious-looking men in robes, both with curly hair and halos. The man on the left holds a long spear, while the one on the right flips through a book. They’re framed by a decorative border with swirling patterns and Latin words at the bottom. The lines are all carved into the metal plate, creating shadows that give the image depth. This is how engravings work—the artist etches the design, then presses ink into the grooves. Next, look up engraving to see how this technique works.
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445 – 10 November 1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a German printmaker and goldsmith, perhaps of a Dutch family origin. He was the most prolific engraver of the…
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