Faith
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 2 15/16 × 1 7/8 in. (7.4 × 4.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.2272
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1636,Faith* is a delicate that captures the allegorical figure Faith through the image of woman accompanied by a. Produced by Herman Weyen and Abraham Bosse, the work reflects the collaborative printmaking practices common in seventeenth-century Europe. At just under three inches tall, the intimate scale suggests it was intended for personal contemplation rather than public display. Abraham Bosse, a leading French printmaker of the period, was renowned for his precise etching technique and ability to convey moral and religious themes with clarity. Etching allowed artists to create fine lines and subtle textures, making it ideal for reproducing devotional imagery that could reach a wide audience through affordable. This particular example belongs to the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of works on paper, highlighting how such small-scale prints served both artistic and spiritual purposes during the Baroque era. The simple yet powerful composition underscores Faith as one of the three theological virtues, inviting viewers to reflect on steadfast belief. Its survival in museum collections today offers a glimpse into the intimate religious art that shaped daily devotion in the 1600s.
About the Artist
Herman Weyen|Abraham Bosse (Flemish|French) · 1600 |1602 –1672 |1676
Flemish, died Paris, 1672|French, Tours 1602/04–1676 Paris