Artwork
Jesus the Obedient Son
Jesus the Obedient Son is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1578 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jesus the Obedient Son is an engraving created by Léonard Gaultier around 1578. It exemplifies the artist's precise and formal style, characteristic of his work as a French engraver active primarily in Paris.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts Jesus, likely the central figure, sitting on a bench with a tool and a board, flanked by a working man and a boy with a basket. The scene is set against a backdrop of a building, trees, and a distant landscape, suggesting a narrative related to Jesus' life or character.
Technique & Style
Gaultier's engraving is notable for its detailed and intricate execution, utilizing fine lines, textures, and cross-hatching to achieve depth and dimensionality. The style is stiff and formal, executed entirely with the graver, and resembles the work of the Wierix family and Crispyn van de Passe.
History & Provenance
Léonard Gaultier was born in Mainz around 1561 and worked until his death in 1641. He was a prolific artist who designed many of his engravings, including religious and portrait works, contributing to his reputation as a laborious engraver.
Artist & collection
Artist
Léonard Gaultier, or, as he sometimes signed himself, Galter, a French engraver, was born at Mainz about 1561, and died in Paris in 1641.
