1485
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Mass of Saint Gregory is a 1485 ink by Israhel van Meckenem, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a church scene with three men and a statue. The man on the left is holding a cup, standing near an altar with candles and a chalice. In the middle, a kneeling priest prays, while a standing man in fancy clothes on the right holds a book. Above them, a statue of a robed figure stands on a pedestal. Notice the tiny cross-hatching lines that create shadows and texture—this was a new way to add depth in prints. Look up engraving next to see how artists carved these lines into metal.
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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