1490
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Archangel Gabriel is a 1490 ink by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows an angel kneeling on one knee, holding a tall staff with a twisted top. The angel has curly hair, a wreath of leaves on its head, and wings that spread wide behind it. It’s dressed in flowing robes, and its face looks calm but serious. The artist used fine lines to create deep shadows and texture in the fabric and feathers. This kind of detail is tricky to do by hand. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
See the richer artist page
