Saint Luke
1624
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1624
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Saint Luke is a 1624 ink by Anthonis Sallaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image is a black-and-white woodcut on blue paper. It shows two large figures with halos—one holding a long staff, the other a book—surrounded by smaller, swirling people and angels. The background is packed with movement, like hands reaching up and buildings in the distance. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to create a busy, almost chaotic scene. The blue background makes the black ink stand out, giving it a striking look. Next, look up woodcut to see how this printing method works.
