Artwork
Saint Simon
Saint Simon is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Martin Schongauer. It dates from 1480 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1480, this engraving presents a solitary figure rendered in profile.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1480, this engraving presents a solitary figure rendered in profile. The man stands barefoot on a plain plane, his long wavy hair and beard framing a solemn expression. He holds a book in his right hand, while his left rests on an unseen ledge. The composition is uncluttered, directing attention to the dignified presence of the individual.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is identified as Saint Simon, one of the twelve apostles, traditionally associated with scholarly or contemplative attributes. The book he carries alludes to his role as a bearer of the Gospel, while the modest attire and simple setting emphasize humility and devotion rather than narrative drama.
Technique & Style
Executed with intaglio engraving on laid paper, the work showcases Schongauer’s precise line work and delicate hatching to model volume. The fine cross‑hatching creates subtle tonal variations, giving the robe and facial features a three‑dimensional quality despite the flat background. The overall style reflects the late Gothic attention to detail that anticipates early Renaissance naturalism.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the corpus of 116 known engravings by Martin Schongauer, an Alsatian artist active in Colmar and later Breisach. Schongauer’s reputation as the foremost printmaker north of the Alps before Albrecht Dürer is anchored in works such as this, which circulated widely through print copies in the late fifteenth century.
Context
Produced during the Northern Renaissance, the engraving aligns with a period when religious imagery was frequently reproduced for devotional use. Schongauer’s prints served both as visual aids for personal contemplation and as models for other artists, contributing to the diffusion of iconographic standards across German‑speaking regions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
