Artwork

The Trinity

The Trinity, by German 15th Century, ink, 1500
The Trinity, by German 15th Century, ink, 1500

The Trinity is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Bright pigments—blue, orange, yellow, green, white, black, gold and silver—highlight the composition, though the overall surface shows signs of age and wear.

The Trinity is a hand‑colored woodcut print that presents a central, haloed figure cradling a smaller child‑like figure, with a kneeling figure positioned below. Bright pigments—blue, orange, yellow, green, white, black, gold and silver—highlight the composition, though the overall surface shows signs of age and wear. A simple ornamental border frames the scene, emphasizing its devotional character.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, likely representing the divine, holds a youthful figure that can be interpreted as the Christ Child, while the kneeling attendant suggests worship or supplication. The arrangement reflects traditional Christian iconography of the Holy Trinity, conveying themes of divine protection, intercession, and the relationship between the divine and the faithful.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the image was carved in relief on a wooden block, inked, and pressed onto paper before being hand‑colored with vivid pigments, including metallic gold and silver. The style is characterized by flat, bold outlines and simplified forms, typical of early printmaking, which lends the work a graphic clarity and a timeless, schematic quality.

History & Provenance

The print’s precise origin and creator are not documented in the supplied data, but its use of multiple colors and the subject matter align it with devotional prints popular in Europe from the late medieval period through the early modern era. Its current location and ownership remain unspecified, indicating that further archival research would be needed to trace its provenance.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 15th Century

Artist

German 15th Century

This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.