Who painted The Griffin?

The Griffin was painted by Israhel van Meckenem in 1474.

Where can I see The Griffin?

The Griffin is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Griffin?

The Griffin is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Griffin

Israhel van Meckenem , 1474

The Griffin is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Israhel van Meckenem. It dates from 1474 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The print depicts a mythological beast combining lion’s body, eagle’s wings, and a bird‑like head, with a tail that curls reminiscent of a scorpion’s sting.

Created in 1474, *The Griffin* is an engraving executed on laid paper by the German artist Israhel van Meckenem. The print depicts a mythological beast combining lion’s body, eagle’s wings, and a bird‑like head, with a tail that curls reminiscent of a scorpion’s sting. The work exemplifies the early Northern European print tradition and showcases Meckenem’s skill in rendering texture and volume through line.

Subject & Meaning

The image centers on a griffin, a creature traditionally symbolizing the union of earthly strength and celestial authority. Its detailed plumage, sharp claws, and coiled tail convey a sense of power and vigilance, reflecting the medieval fascination with hybrid beasts as allegorical figures of guardianship and moral fortitude.

Technique & Style

Meckenem achieved depth by employing dense cross‑hatching and parallel lines, a method that simulates shading much like a modern pencil drawing. The engraving’s fine incisions on laid paper allow subtle gradations of tone, giving the griffin a three‑dimensional presence that was characteristic of late‑15th‑century German printmaking.

History & Provenance

Israhel van Meckenem, active between 1465 and 1503, was the most prolific engraver of his century, producing over six hundred prints. Many of his works were copies of earlier designs, and *The Griffin* fits within this practice, illustrating his role in disseminating popular motifs across Northern Europe during the early print era.

Artist & collection

Artist

Israhel van Meckenem

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…