San Martino
1485-90
Martin Schongauer, a superstar of Northern Renaissance printmaking, captures the legendary moment of charity in this striking engraving. St. Martin stands tall and elegant, his fabulous curly hair framing a face of calm determination as he uses his sword to slice his heavy cloak in two. The recipient is a ragged, shivering beggar kneeling at his feet, looking up in awe as the warm fabric is draped over him. This scene illustrates the famous story where Martin, a Roman soldier, shared his cloak with a poor man, only to later dream that the man was Jesus in disguise. You can even spot the artist's monogram 'M t S' at the very bottom, a signature of his immense pride in this detailed work.
- Technique
- Engraving
Views: 1