St. Philip(?), standing with his left hand on his hip and his right hand resting on his head, masonry walls to his right and behind him, from "Christ and the Twelve Apostles"

Art Historical Context

Lambert Suavius created this delicate engraving of St. Philip in 1545 as part of his series “Christ and the Twelve Apostles.” The saint stands in a thoughtful pose, left hand on his hip and right resting on his head, framed by simple masonry walls that suggest an intimate, contemplative setting. The compact sheet, measuring just under eight inches tall, captures fine architectural details and the figure’s expressive stance with remarkable precision. As an engraving, the work exemplifies the 16th-century printmaker’s ability to translate sculptural and architectural forms into linear patterns ...

About the Artist

Lambert Suavius · 1510–1576

Lambert Suavius (c.1510–c.1574/76), whose Flemish family name was Zutman, was born in Liège, in the southern Netherlands. He was the son of an episcopal goldsmith, Henri Zutman, and from his father's craft environment he inherited a training in the precise handling of metal and an appreciation for fine detail work. He became closely associated with his brother-in-law Lambert Lombard, the leading a...