Risen Christ between Saints Andrew and Longinus

The print Risen Christ between Saints Andrew and Longinus by Andrea Mantegna, executed as an intricate engraving on laid paper sometime between 1460 and 1475, stands as a critical work within the tradition of Early Italian Renaissance printmaking. Mantegna, one of the foremost artists of the Quattrocento period (1401 to 1500), was pivotal in establishing the independent artistic status of the medium. Unlike many contemporaries who used printing primarily for simple reproduction, Mantegna approached these prints as a refined art form, allowing his unique sculptural style to translate seamlessly onto copper.

This piece demonstrates the artist’s masterful command of the burin, utilizing precise parallel and cross-hatching to define voluminous drapery and classically derived musculature. The artist’s focus on monumental, idealized forms reflects his profound interest in Roman antiquity, a stylistic hallmark of his Northern Italian work.

The composition centers on the Risen Christ, who stands victorious over death, flanked by two important saints. On the left stands Saint Andrew, identifiable by the distinctive saltire cross of his martyrdom. To the right is Saint Longinus, traditionally identified as the Roman soldier who pierced Christ's side with a lance, holding the instrument of the Passion as a testament to his conversion. Mantegna organizes the figures tightly within a shallow space, emphasizing their dramatic presence and serious piety, typical of devotional art from the 15th century.

As one of the earliest great masters of copper engraving, Mantegna’s output was highly influential across Europe. Original impressions like this example, housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, are rare and highly prized. The historical importance of the work ensures that high-quality reproductions and digital assets related to this masterpiece are often sought after in the public domain. The detail and technical power evident in this piece confirm Mantegna’s legacy as a foundational figure in Italian Renaissance art.