Saint Agnes, holding a palm leaf and a tethered lamb
Original title: Saint Agnes, holding a palm leaf and a tethered lamb
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1631, Willem Panneels made an etching of Saint Agnes seated with a palm frond and a tethered lamb. This impression is the second state of the plate and belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Description
A woman in a loose, flowing robe sits with her gaze lifted toward the sky. Her right hand holds a palm, while her left gestures toward her breast. A small lamb stands beside her, tied with a rope. Clouds and rays of light descending from above fill the background.
Context
Panneels, a pupil of Peter Paul Rubens whose name appears in the signature 'P.P. Rubeni in G. Pannolis fecit,' was working as an engraver in Antwerp around 1631. The etching likely derives from a model in Rubens's circle, which supports the attribution.
Impact
The saint's upward pose and the shafts of light give the image a spiritual, elevated mood. Delicate linework creates a quiet, contemplative atmosphere that invites devotion.
Technique
This is an etching, an intaglio process in which the drawing is bitten into a metal plate. The present impression is the second state of the plate, as noted by Hollstein. The sheet measures 10 × 7.5 cm, suggesting it was trimmed at a later date.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)