1490
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Fourth Wise Virgin is a 1490 ink by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woman stands with a calm face, holding a small lit candle in a bowl. Her long dress flows down to the ground, and she wears a wreath on her head. One hand rests on her chest, while the other holds the candle steady. The background is simple, with just a hint of a landscape at her feet. Her pose is quiet but deliberate, like she’s waiting or preparing. The artist used fine lines to show light and shadow, making her clothes look textured. Look up engraving to see how artists like this carved detailed images into metal.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
See the richer artist page
