St. Scholastica

Art Historical Context

**St. Scholastica**, a delicate engraving from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Prints collection, showcases the collaborative talents of French artists Laurent de La Hyre Gilles Rousselet, and Pierre Mariette le fils Created in the 17th century France's Baroque era, this print likely reproduces a painting by La Hyre, a master of classical Baroque style known for his elegant figures and refined compositions. Rousselet, a skilled engraver, translated the design into intricate lines, while Mariette ensured its dissemination to a wide audience of collectors and devotees. The subject, St. Scholastica—twin sister of St. Benedict and a key figure in early Christian monasticism—appears with symbolic tags like "Women," "Cross," and "Saints," evoking her pious life and heavenly visions. At 15 1/16 x 9 3/8 inches, the sheet size suits intimate study or devotional display, common for engravings that made sacred art accessible beyond grand cathedrals. Engravings like this were revolutionary for their precision and reproducibility, allowing detailed religious imagery to inspire faith across Europe. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 3, it highlights the Met's commitment to preserving such prints, bridging 17th-century spirituality with modern appreciation. A timeless tribute to female sanctity amid Baroque grandeur.

About the Artist

Laurent de La Hyre|Gilles Rousselet|Pierre Mariette le fils · 1606–1656

Laurent de La Hyre (1606–1656) was a French painter whose elegant, classical compositions placed him among the finest artists of the first generation of French Baroque painters working in Paris. Born into an artistic family — his father Étienne de La Hyre was also a painter — Laurent received his early training largely through independent study rather than formal apprenticeship under a single domi...