Saints Matthias and Judas Thaddaeus, from The Apostles

Art Historical Context

In the late 15th century, engraver Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445–1503) crafted intricate prints that bridged the Gothic and Renaissance eras, making religious imagery accessible to a wider audience. *Saints Matthias and Judasaddaeus, from The* is a fine example from one of his series depicting apostolic saints. Produced as an engraving on a modest sheet (5 13/16 × 8 7/16 in.), this undated work exemplifies the medium's rise in Northern Europe, where copper plates allowed for detailed, reproducible devotional art that could adorn homes or personal prayer books. The composition likely portrays ...

About the Artist

Israhel van Meckenem · 1435–1503

Israhel van Meckenem (c. 1445–1503), also known as Israhel van Meckenem the Younger, was a pioneering German engraver and goldsmith based in Bocholt, near the Dutch border, renowned as the most prolific printmaker of the fifteenth century. Born into a family possibly of Dutch origin, he was the son of Israhel van Meckenem the Elder, a goldsmith who settled in Bocholt in 1457. He trained initially ...