1480
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Madonna and Child with Saints Christopher and Erasmus is a 1480 ink by Netherlandish 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a woman holding a baby while sitting on a throne-like chair. Around them, two men stand: one holding a tall staff, the other reading a book. Behind them, a curtain frames a glowing light, and small angels peek from the sides. The woman’s face is calm, and the baby looks at her with soft eyes. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, making the figures look three-dimensional. Notice how the light from behind the throne gives everything a soft glow—this was a common trick in Renaissance art. Look up engraving to see how artists carved these details into metal.
These prints show Christ’s suffering in bold, hand-colored images from 15th-century Northern Europe.
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