Who painted Saint Leonard?

Saint Leonard was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1500.

Where can I see Saint Leonard?

Saint Leonard is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Leonard?

Saint Leonard is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint Leonard

Albrecht Dürer , 1500

Saint Leonard is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut Saint Leonard, dated around 1500, presents a devotional image of the sixth‑century French bishop Leonard of Noblac. Executed as a single‑plate print, the work measures roughly 30 × 20 cm and was likely intended for private contemplation or small‑scale distribution among the faithful.

Subject & Meaning

The figure of Saint Leonard is shown in full episcopal vestments, holding a chain in his right hand—a reference to his reputation for liberating captives—and a crozier in his left, symbolising his pastoral authority. At his feet a diminutive dragon lies subdued, reinforcing the saint’s role as a protector against evil.

Technique & Style

Dürer employs the fine line work characteristic of his early printmaking, using delicate hatching to model the folds of the bishop’s robes and to suggest subtle shadows on the figure’s face. The contrast between the crisp outlines and the nuanced tonal gradations gives the scene a tangible, three‑dimensional quality uncommon in contemporary woodcuts.

History & Provenance

Created near the turn of the sixteenth century, the print belongs to Dürer’s series of religious subjects produced for the burgeoning market of devotional prints. Surviving copies are held in several European collections, including the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, reflecting the work’s continued circulation among collectors of early Northern Renaissance prints.