Who painted Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian?

Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian was painted by Hans Burgkmair the Elder in 1498.

Where can I see Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian?

Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian?

Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian

Hans Burgkmair the Elder , 1498

Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen and Saint Maximilian is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Burgkmair the Elder. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1498 color woodcut by Hans Burgkmair I depicts three Christian saints standing together, identified by their names *Valentinus*, *Stephanus*, and *Maximilianus* at the base of the image.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows Saint Valentine, Saint Stephen, and Saint Maximilian in ecclesiastical attire and headgear, each associated with distinct attributes: a staff with an unspecified object, a book, and a cross-topped staff, symbolizing their individual martyrdoms or roles.

Technique & Style

Characteristic of the woodcut technique, the image features sharp lines and flat colors. A decorative top border contrasts with the plain background, while a shield bearing a lion and a black bear is prominently displayed at the saints' feet.

History & Provenance

Created in 1498 by Hans Burgkmair I, a prominent figure in the Nuremberg artistic circle, this work exemplifies the religious themes prevalent in late 15th-century German printmaking.

Context

This woodcut reflects the widespread use of woodcuts for religious imagery during the Renaissance, facilitating mass production of devotional images for a broad audience.