The Colophonian Sibyl

Art Historical Context

This 16th-century engraving, titled *The Colophonian Sibyl*, was created by the artist known as Master with the Name of Jesus. Produced during the Renaissance, when interest in classical antiquity flourished alongside Christian themes, the print portrays one of the ancient prophetesses revered for their foresight. The Colophonian Sibyl, associated with the city of Colophon in Asia Minor, appears here as a female nude accompanied by a cross, reflecting the era’s blending of pagan and Christian iconography. Engraving, the chosen medium, allowed artists to create fine, repeatable lines that could be widely distributed, making such images accessible beyond elite circles. This technique highlights the growing importance of prints in sharing artistic and religious ideas across Europe during the period. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work entered the collection in 1927 through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund. Its presence underscores the enduring fascination with sibyls as symbols of wisdom bridging ancient and modern worlds.