Saint Matthew
1541
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.1212
Art Historical Context
Sebald Beham, a master of the German Renaissance known as one of the "Little Masters" from Nuremberg, created *Saint Matthew* in 1541. This exquisite engraving captures the Evangelist Saint Matthew, traditionally depicted as the author of the Gospel, often with an angel as his divine muse. Beham's work exemplifies the Nuremberg school's precision and humanism, blending religious devotion with meticulous detail in a compact format—typical of prints no larger than a few inches. As an engraving, the piece showcases Beham's virtuoso technique: fine, cross-hatched lines build depth, texture, and s...
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...