Saint Andrew kneeling and adoring the cross
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 15 1/4 in. × 11 in. (38.8 × 27.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.4200
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This engraving, titled *Saint Andrew Kneeling and Adoring the Cross*, captures the apostle in a moment of profound devotion before the X-shaped cross of his martyrdom. Created between 1750 and 1780, the work reflects the enduring popularity of religious subjects in 18th-century European art, where such images served both devotional and educational purposes for a wide audience. As an engraving, this print medium allowed for detailed reproduction and broader circulation of sacred imagery beyond the original painting or drawing. The sheet’s trimmed dimensions of about 15 by 11 inches suggest it was designed for personal contemplation or inclusion in print collections. Artists associated with the work include Lorenzo Lorenzi, Carlo Dolci, and Carlo Faucci, whose combined efforts highlight the collaborative nature of printmaking during this period. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Drawings and Prints department through the Elisha Whittelsey Collection, the piece exemplifies how engravings preserved and disseminated important religious narratives for centuries.
About the Artist
Lorenzo Lorenzi|Carlo Dolci|Carlo Faucci (Italian|Italian) · 1750 |1700 –1780 |1800
Italian, active ca. 1750–80|Italian, active Florence, 18th century