Saint Barbara
ca. 1615–75
Medium
Engraving; only state
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 12 7/8 × 8 13/16 in. (32.7 × 22.4 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
51.501.7155
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving of *Saint Barbara*, created through the collaboration of painter Peter Paul Rubens and engraver Lucas Vorsterman I, captures the dramatic spirit of the Baroque period. Rubens, a master of dynamic compositions and rich expression, designed the image, while Vorsterman translated it into print with remarkable precision. Produced between roughly 1615 and 1675, the work exemplifies how leading artists used engraving to extend the reach of their creations beyond painted originals. As a reproductive print in its only state, this engraving highlights an important development in 17th-ce...