Coat of Arms of Sebald Beham
1544
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.1127
Art Historical Context
Created in 1544 by the German artist Sebaldham, this engraving presents his personal coat of arms. Beham, active in Nuremberg during the Renaissance, was renowned for his small-scale prints that combined precise line work with symbolic imagery. As an engraving, work highlights the medium’s capacity for intricate detail and reproducibility, allowing such designs to circulate among collectors and patrons across Europe. Coats of arms served not only as markers of identity but also as statements of professional standing. In Beham’s case, the print likely functioned as both a personal emblem and a...
About the Artist
Sebald Beham · 1500–1550
Sebald Beham (1500–1550), a pioneering German printmaker and painter born in Nuremberg, emerged as one of the most prolific artists of the Northern Renaissance. The elder brother of fellow artist Barthel Beham, he grew up in a milieu steeped in artistic tradition, though details of his early training remain sparsely documented. Recorded as a journeyman painter (Malergeselle) by 1521 and a master w...