Saint Poppo
1475
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1475
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Poppo is a 1475 ink by Netherlandish 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a robed figure with a tall bishop’s hat, holding a staff topped with a small cross. Behind them, a person lies on the ground, reaching upward, while sheep graze in a green, hilly landscape. The colors are flat—greens, reds, and yellows—applied after the print was made. The bishop’s calm expression and raised hand suggest a blessing or protection over the fallen figure. This style of printing, where lines are carved into wood and then inked, was common in the 1400s. Next, look up woodcut to see how artists created prints like this before photography.
