The Risen Christ between Saints Andrew and Longinus

The Risen Christ between Saints Andrew and Longinus by the Workshop of Andrea Mantegna Italian, 1431-1506, is a powerful early Renaissance print dated between 1467 and 1477. Classification as a print indicates the work was executed as an engraving, a medium that was rapidly growing in popularity and sophistication during the mid-15th century. Created by meticulously incising lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto paper, this technique reflects the high standard of graphic arts being developed in northern Italy during this period. The composition, featuring Christ centrally positioned and flanked by Saint Andrew and Saint Longinus, showcases the dramatic, classically influenced style synonymous with the influential Mantegna circle.

The scene depicts the resurrected Christ, an image rooted deeply in Christian iconography, presented with the sculptural gravitas typical of the period's classicizing tendency. The inclusion of Saints Andrew, one of the original twelve apostles, and Longinus, often identified as the soldier who pierced Christ’s side, ties the composition to specific traditions of historical and apostolic veneration. Produced in Italy, this engraving likely served not only as a devotional image but also as a design model or a collectible item, successfully disseminating the workshop's artistic innovations across Europe. The Mantegna workshop was renowned for mastering dramatic perspective and monumental classicism, qualities evident even in this relatively early print format.

This important piece of graphic art is currently held in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its historical importance as an early example of Renaissance prints makes it a significant object for scholarly study. As works from this seminal era enter the public domain, they continue to inform our understanding of 15th-century Italian artistic production.