Artwork
Saint Paul with Book and Sword
Saint Paul with Book and Sword is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger. It dates from 1540 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1540, this woodcut on laid paper is attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger. It presents a single figure—Saint Paul—holding a book and a sword, rendered in a restrained composition that emphasizes the saint’s contemplative demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The image identifies Paul the Apostle through his traditional attributes: a book symbolising his epistles and a sword representing his martyrdom. His modest attire and serene expression convey a theological focus on spiritual authority rather than earthly power.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine woodcut lines, the print demonstrates Holbein’s characteristic precision. The use of laid paper provides a subtle texture, while the economy of line retains clarity of form, allowing details such as the book’s pages and the sword’s hilt to remain distinct despite the medium’s limitations.
History & Provenance
The work originates from Holbein’s later period, when he was active in England. It survives as a printed exemplar of Reformation-era devotional imagery, though specific ownership records prior to its inclusion in modern collections are not documented.
Artist & collection
