St. Maurice (?)

About this artwork

This engraving depicts St. Maurice, the Christian martyr and commander of the Theban Legion, created by French engraver Pierre François Basan between 1743 and 1797. The print shows the saint in military attire, reflecting his role as a soldier-saint venerated for his martyrdom. The composition presents the figure with the formal qualities characteristic of 18th-century religious printmaking. Pierre François Basan was a French engraver and print publisher who worked in Paris, serving as both crea...

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Pierre François Basan captures St. Maurice, the early Christian martyr and commander of the Theban Legion, dressed in military attire that reflects his dual identity as soldier and saint. Created between 1743 and 1797, the print reproduces a painting by the Italian Baroque artist Luca Giordano, a common practice in 18th Europe where engravings made famous artworks accessible beyond palace walls. Basan, working in Paris, trained under masters like Étienne Fessard and Jean Daullé, mastering the refined techniques of the French academic tradition. The small scale of this engraving—roughly the size of a postcard—highlights the intimate nature of such devotional prints, which were widely collected and circulated. Basan was not only an engraver but also a prominent print publisher and author of a 1767 dictionary of engravers, embodying the era’s blend of artistic skill and commercial enterprise. His work preserves religious imagery even as the print market grew increasingly secular. Through delicate line work and tonal gradations, the engraving conveys the saint’s dignified presence while demonstrating the reproductive power of the medium. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1917, this piece offers a window into how 18th-century audiences encountered sacred history through affordable, finely crafted prints.