Caritas
1530
Lucas van Leyden’s 1530 masterpiece brings the virtue of Charity to life with a surprisingly earthy, human touch. Instead of a distant, glowing saint, we see a robust mother figure literally swarmed by her children—one clinging to her back, another nestled in her lap—while a cherub hovers above holding a wreath. Keep an eye on the vase to the right; that’s a pelican, a classic symbol of self-sacrifice believed to feed its young with its own blood. It’s a busy, intimate scene that turns a high-minded religious concept into a warm, chaotic family moment.
- Technique
- engraving
Views: 2