Artwork
The Veil of Saint Veronica
The Veil of Saint Veronica is an ink print by the Baroque artist Nicolas de Plattemontagne. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Nicolas de Plattemontagne’s 1668 engraving, titled *The Veil of Saint Veronica*, presents a devotional scene on laid paper. Executed as a print, the work depicts a female figure presenting a cloth bearing the faint impression of a face, referencing the legendary veil associated with Saint Veronica.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure holds a veil that bears the likeness of Christ’s visage, a visual shorthand for the medieval legend in which Veronica wipes the Savior’s face on the way to Calvary, leaving his image imprinted on the fabric. The composition emphasizes the act of faith and the miraculous transmission of the holy image.
Technique & Style
The image is rendered through traditional engraving, a process in which the artist incises lines into a metal plate and transfers the design onto paper. De Plattemontagne employs fine cross‑hatching to model the veil’s texture and the subtle facial features, achieving a delicate tonal range characteristic of mid‑seventeenth‑century French printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1668, the print reflects the period’s widespread interest in devotional objects that could be reproduced for private contemplation. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has circulated among collections of religious prints and appears in catalogues of French engravers of the era.
Context
The legend of Saint Veronica was a popular subject in Counter‑Reformation art, serving as a visual affirmation of Christ’s humanity and the power of pious intercession. De Plattemontagne’s treatment aligns with contemporary French religious imagery that favored clear, didactic representations suitable for personal devotion.
Legacy
Although not as widely cited as larger painted cycles, the engraving contributes to the visual tradition surrounding the Veronica legend. Its precise line work exemplifies the technical skill of French engravers and continues to be referenced in studies of devotional print culture in the seventeenth century.
Artist & collection
