Saint Jude, holding a halberd in his right hand, from "Piccoli Santi" (Small Saints)
Original title: Saint Jude, holding a halberd in his right hand, from "Piccoli Santi" (Small Saints)
kurzbeschreibung
Marcantonio Raimondi engraved this print at some point between about 1500 and 1527. It presents Saint Jude facing forward, dressed in a robe and a cloak. His right hand closes around a halberd, the attribute that identifies him. The sheet belongs to the 'Piccoli Santi', a series of small-format portrayals of saints.
Description
Jude turns toward the viewer, his head tilted slightly to the left. Curling hair frames a halo. A robe covers his shoulders, a cloak wraps his hips, and the right hand grips the halberd. Behind the figure, vertical bands hint at a window or some architectural structure. Hatched strokes that shift in direction and weight build the shadows and textures, and everything stays in black and white.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian engraver of the Renaissance, is best known for reproductive prints after designs such as those of Raphael. The 'Piccoli Santi' were made around 1500–1527 and gather small images of saints. Such devotional pictures circulated widely in the early modern period and served private piety. Through Raimondi's engravings, pictorial motifs traveled across Europe.
Impact
Clear lines and the saint's calm, frontal stance convey dignity and devotion. Delicate hatching gives the figure volume and lifts it from the plain ground. The arrangement feels balanced and draws the eye entirely to the saint's presence.
Technique
An engraving is an intaglio process: the lines are cut into a metal plate. Varying the thickness and direction of the strokes produces shadow and bodily form. The sheet measures 8.2 x 4.9 cm and is printed in black on paper.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)