Artwork
Simeon the Patriarch
Simeon the Patriarch is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Maerten van Heemskerck. It dates from 1549 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Simeon the Patriarch is a pen and brown‑ink drawing on laid paper, executed by the Dutch artist Maerten van Heemskerck in 1549. The work presents a single figure rendered with incised lines that give the image a subtle texture and depth, characteristic of Heemskerck’s late period.
Technique & Style
The drawing combines brown ink applied with a pen and delicate incising, a method that allows the artist to vary line weight and create tonal contrasts. Laid paper, with its visible ribbed texture, contributes to the overall effect, enhancing the sense of volume in the figure’s drapery and features.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑sixteenth century, the piece reflects Heemskerck’s continued interest in religious subjects after his extensive travels in Italy. While specific ownership records are sparse, the drawing has been documented in several catalogue raisonnés of the artist’s oeuvre and is held in a public collection dedicated to Northern Renaissance works.
Artist & collection
