Saint Veronica between Saints Peter and Paul

The print Saint Veronica between Saints Peter and Paul was created by the pivotal German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer around 1510. Classified as a devotional print, this impressive work utilizes the demanding technique of woodcut on laid paper. Dürer’s mastery of the graphic arts is immediately evident in the composition, which centers on three key religious figures captured with dramatic intensity and detailed realism.

The central figure is Saint Veronica, renowned for carrying the sudarium or Veil of Veronica, upon which the true image of Christ’s face was miraculously imprinted. This object served as a powerful relic and subject for late medieval piety. Flanking her are the two principal Apostles: Saint Peter, immediately recognizable by the large key signifying his authority as the founder of the Church, and Saint Paul, traditionally associated with the sword representing his martyrdom and his powerful epistles.

Dürer’s intricate handling of shadow and form, utilizing dense cross-hatching and fine parallel lines typical of early 16th-century prints, elevates the emotional intensity of the devotional image. Dating from the period of 1501 to 1550, this piece exemplifies the profound artistic changes occurring in German culture, where Renaissance techniques began to merge with the powerful, expressive traditions of Northern European art. Dürer was instrumental in elevating the woodcut medium from simple illustration to an independent form of high art suitable for serious collection and study. The relative ease of mass production afforded by the print medium also played a crucial role in disseminating religious imagery and Dürer’s immense artistic influence across the continent. This significant example of German graphic art is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.