Who painted Saint Apollonia?

Saint Apollonia was painted by German 15th Century in 1450.

Where can I see Saint Apollonia?

Saint Apollonia is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Apollonia?

Saint Apollonia is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint Apollonia

German 15th Century , 1450

Saint Apollonia is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Saint Apollonia is a hand‑colored woodcut print that employs a limited palette of red lake, green, yellow and brown. The composition presents three figures rendered in flat, vivid tones: a kneeling man in green, a seated woman in red clutching a tooth, and a winged, haloed figure behind them holding a pair of tongs. A bright yellow sunburst crowns the scene, adding visual emphasis.

Subject & Meaning

The kneeling man appears to be a supplicant, his hand reaching toward the saint in a gesture of petition or penitence.

The central figure is identified as Saint Apollonia, the patron saint of dentistry, indicated by the tooth she holds. The kneeling man appears to be a supplicant, his hand reaching toward the saint in a gesture of petition or penitence. The winged figure, likely an angel, bears a tool resembling tongs, a traditional attribute linked to Apollonia’s martyrdom, reinforcing the theme of intercession and sacrifice.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the image was carved from a single block of wood, allowing bold, linear contours and areas of solid color. After printing, the work was hand‑colored using pigments such as red lake, which provides a deep, transparent red, alongside green, yellow and brown washes. The flat application of color and stark contrasts are characteristic of early printmaking aimed at clear visual communication.

Context

Woodcut prints of saints were commonly produced for devotional use in the late medieval and early modern periods, offering affordable religious imagery for private contemplation. The inclusion of vivid colors and a dramatic sunburst reflects a period when printers sought to enhance the visual impact of otherwise monochrome woodcuts, catering to a growing market for personalized, illustrated devotional objects.