Saint Bartholomew

Saint Bartholomew is a masterful engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1523. Executed in the final years of the artist’s life, this print exemplifies the meticulous detail and profound religious focus that characterized the Northern Renaissance master’s late work. This piece belongs to a significant series dedicated to the Apostles, figures central to Christian theology and popular subjects among early 16th-century German artists.

Dürer utilizes the demanding medium of engraving to achieve remarkable precision and texture. The Apostle Bartholomew is depicted in three-quarter view, his face characterized by deep contemplation. As tradition holds that he was martyred by being flayed alive, the Saint is typically identified by the knife he holds, rendered here with sharp clarity. Unlike earlier, more narrative depictions of saints, Dürer focuses intently on the psychological state of the subject, endowing the figure with an individualized, almost melancholic gravity. The finely wrought lines and cross-hatching demonstrate Dürer’s unrivaled technical mastery in handling light and shadow on the copper plate.

The production of such high-quality prints allowed religious imagery, previously confined to large altarpieces, to reach a much wider audience across Europe. This particular piece of religious iconography secured the artist’s legacy not just as a painter, but as the preeminent printmaker of his era. Today, the work is part of the extensive collection of German drawings and prints held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a seminal work from the early 16th century, this engraving is frequently available through various public domain initiatives, ensuring its continued study by scholars worldwide.