Artwork
Saint Simon
Saint Simon is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master FVB. It dates from 1495 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1495, Saint Simon is a black‑and‑white engraving attributed to the anonymous early Netherlandish printmaker known as Master FVB. The work portrays the apostle Simon, identified by the saw he holds, and exemplifies the precise, expressive line quality typical of Netherlandish prints at the turn of the 16th century.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents Simon the Zealot with his conventional attribute, a saw, underscoring his martyrdom narrative. By focusing on the saint’s solemn expression and the symbolic tool, the engraving reinforces the devotional purpose of the piece, inviting contemplation of Simon’s faith and sacrifice.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine cross‑hatching, the print achieves tonal variation and a sense of volume through intersecting lines. This method, common among Renaissance engravers, allows subtle gradations of shadow. The overall style shows a clear affinity for the meticulous line work of Dieric Bouts and the broader Netherlandish engraving tradition.
History & Provenance
The work is linked to Master FVB, an unidentified artist active between 1480 and 1500 in the Low Countries. Though the print’s early ownership is undocumented, it survives in several museum collections, attesting to its circulation among devotional prints of the period.
Context
Saint Simon belongs to a wave of late‑15th‑century religious prints that disseminated saintly imagery beyond painted altarpieces. Its visual language reflects the influence of contemporaries such as the Master of the Amsterdam Cabinet and the German engraver Martin Schongauer, situating it within a cross‑regional exchange of print techniques.
Legacy
The engraving remains a reference point for scholars studying the development of Netherlandish line engraving. Its combination of precise hatching and clear iconography illustrates the technical and devotional priorities that shaped early print culture in Northern Europe.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master FVB (active c. 1480 — 1500) was an anonymous early Netherlandish engraver. According to one tradition, the artist is identical to Franz von Bocholt, but there seems to be no evidence to support such a…
