Pseudo-Ortkens

Pseudo-Ortkens was an artist documented during a short but specific five-year period in the 16th century, active between 1520 and 1525. While details of their life remain sparse, the artist’s output is established through works preserved in significant institutional collections.

The surviving documentation indicates a specialization in glass roundels depicting complex religious and narrative scenes. Ten works attributed to the artist are accounted for in museum collections. These include the Old Testament narratives Roundel with Daniel Slaying the Dragon and Roundel with Susannah and The Elders, alongside hagiographic subjects like Roundel with Saint Jerome in his Study and Roundel with Saint John the Baptist. The New Testament is also represented by the documented piece, Roundel with Christ and the Adulterous Woman.

The historical and artistic importance of Pseudo-Ortkens’s surviving work is demonstrated by its inclusion in major global institutions, notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given their age and historical provenance, many Pseudo-Ortkens prints and designs are available in the public domain, allowing for the creation of high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for study and appreciation.