Artwork
Saint Anthony Reading

Saint Anthony Reading is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1519 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Saint Anthony Reading is an engraving on laid paper created by Albrecht Dürer in 1519. The work portrays a serene scene of Saint Anthony the Great engaged in reading.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts Saint Anthony the Great, an ancient hermit saint, in a moment of quiet contemplation. By showing him reading rather than in hermitic isolation, the piece humanizes the saint, emphasizing his relatability.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed his characteristic engraving technique to create the piece, though specific stylistic innovations or deviations from his usual method are not highlighted in available information.
History & Provenance
Created in 1519, the engraving's provenance details are not provided in the available sources, focusing instead on its creation and subject matter.
Context
Part of Dürer's religious oeuvre, Saint Anthony Reading reflects the Renaissance interest in depicting saints in everyday, accessible scenarios, bridging the divine and the mundane.
Legacy
As a work by Dürer, it contributes to his legacy in printmaking, though its specific impact or influence on subsequent art is not detailed in the provided information.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)


![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)















