Epiphanius, from the series Sylvae Sacrae Monumenta...Anachoretarum

Art Historical Context

This engraving, created in 1593–94 by Flemish painter Maerten de Vos and engraver Johann Sadeler I, depicts Saint Epiphanius as part of the series *Sylvae Sacrae Monumenta...Anachoretarum* (Sacred Wood Monuments of the Anchorites). The work portrays the early Christian bishop amid a wooded landscape, emphasizing themes of solitude and spiritual retreat. Produced during the late Northern Renaissance, it reflects the era’s growing interest in hermitic life as a model of piety, especially amid the Counter-Reformation’s call for renewed religious devotion. Sadeler’s engraving technique translates de Vos’s design into fine, precise lines that capture both the saint’s dignified presence and the intricate textures of trees and foliage. Such prints were widely circulated, allowing devotional imagery to reach broader audiences beyond church walls. The modest scale—roughly 6 by 8 inches—made these works intimate objects for personal contemplation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of prints and drawings, this piece highlights how 16th-century artists combined religious narrative with natural settings to inspire reflection on faith and withdrawal from worldly concerns.