Master S

Master S was a printmaker documented as active across the late 15th century, operating approximately between 1440 and 1500. Their surviving output consists primarily of prints, with thirteen individual examples and one volume attributed to the artist represented in institutional holdings.

Working during the formative decades of printmaking in Europe, Master S executed narrative and devotional subjects. The prints documented in major collections include the dramatic biblical scene Lot and His Daughters and the New Testament depiction Pilate Washing His Hands. Secular subjects are also represented, notably with the work Lucretia. Further examples of the artist’s religious iconography include the devotional images Saint Barbara and Saint Dominic.

The importance of the artist’s contribution to early print history is demonstrated by the inclusion of their work in prominent American museums. Master S prints are preserved at the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Gallery of Art. The surviving body of work, though small, establishes the artist's place within the development of historical imagery. As works of this vintage are often digitized, many Master S prints and related materials are made available through public domain initiatives today.