Artwork
Saint Bartholomew
Saint Bartholomew is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Israhel van Meckenem. It dates from 1475 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Around 1475 Israhel van Meckenem, a German printmaker active in the late fifteenth century, executed an engraving titled Saint Bartholomew on laid paper. The work presents a solitary, bearded figure in flowing robes, marked by a halo and a caption identifying the saint. The composition is rendered in stark black‑and‑white lines, emphasizing the texture of fabric and the anatomy of the figure.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays the apostle Bartholomew, traditionally shown with a knife—a reference to his martyrdom—though the object in his hand may also be interpreted as a book. The saint’s hand placed on his chest suggests a gesture of devotion or oath, aligning the work with the devotional prints popular in Northern Europe during this period.
Technique & Style
Van Meckenem employed the engraving process, incising fine lines into a copper plate that were then transferred to laid paper. The crisp, sharply defined lines reveal his skill in rendering folds, musculature, and the halo’s delicate outline, characteristic of the detailed, linear style that defined early German printmaking.
History & Provenance
Israhel van Meckenem was the most prolific engraver of the fifteenth century, producing over six hundred prints, many of which were copies of earlier works. His output overlapped with that of Albrecht Dürer, whose designs he also reproduced, situating Saint Bartholomew within a network of artistic exchange and replication in late medieval Germany.
Context
The engraving reflects the era’s emphasis on religious imagery for private devotion. Printed works like this could be disseminated more widely than painted panels, allowing lay audiences to engage with saintly iconography in domestic settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445 – 10 November 1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a German printmaker and goldsmith, perhaps of a Dutch family origin. He was the most prolific engraver of the…
