Heilige Familie met de H. Catharina van Alexandrië

About this artwork

Tekst in het Latijn in de ondermarge.

Art Historical Context

**Heilige Familie met H. Catharina vanrië** *Lucas Kilian, ca. 1589–1615* Engraving, 238 × 249 mm Step into the intricate world of late Renaissance engraving with Lucas Kilian’s *Heilige Familie de H. Catharina Alexandrië* ( Family with St. Catherine Alexandria). Created by the German master engraver from Augsburg during his active years around 1589–1615, this print depicts a tender scene of the Virgin Mary, Christ Child, St. Joseph, and the scholarly St. Catherine, a popular saint symbolizing faith and intellect. Latin text in the lower margin likely offers a devotional inscription, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of divine protection and piety central to Catholic iconography. Kilian, part of a renowned family of printmakers, excelled in the Mannerist style, characterized by elegant lines, expressive poses, and fine detail. Engraving—a meticulous technique of incising copper plates with a burin—allowed for precise reproduction of such religious imagery, making sacred art accessible beyond elite patrons. At 238 × 249 mm, this compact work exemplifies how prints democratized devotion during the Counter-Reformation, bridging Northern European Protestant hubs like Augsburg with Catholic visual traditions. This piece highlights engraving’s golden age, blending technical virtuosity with spiritual depth. Imagine pilgrims poring over its delicate cross-hatching for meditation— a testament to art’s enduring role in nurturing faith.

About the Artist

Lucas Kilian · 1579–1637

Lucas Kilian (1579–1637) was one of the most celebrated engravers of early 17th-century Germany and the most prominent member of the Kilian dynasty of printmakers in Augsburg. Born in Augsburg in 1579, Lucas Kilian achieved international recognition for his technically virtuosic engravings and became a leading figure in the transition from late Renaissance to early Baroque printmaking styles. His ...