Saint Luke Painting the Virgin

Raphael Sadeler I

1584

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

About this work

This engraving shows an old man with a beard painting a woman seated on a throne. Around them, angels float in the air, some holding objects. The woman holds a baby, and another child sits beside her. The man’s easel is tall, and he’s carefully working on his picture. The scene mixes real people with heavenly figures, blending earth and sky. The lines are sharp and detailed, showing skill in capturing cloth, skin, and light. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints.