Saint Paul holding a sword and a book, from Christ and the Apostles

Art Historical Context

Andrea Schiavone, known as Andrea Meldola created this elegant etching of Saint Paul around the mid-sixteenth century as part of series *Christ and the Apostles*. A Venetian artist active during the late Renaissance, Schiavone was celebrated for his fluid line work and ability to convey both spiritual depth and human presence through printmaking. The compact sheet, measuring just over eight by four inches, captures the apostle standing with his traditional attributes: a sword, referencing his martyrdom, and a book, symbolizing his influential epistles. Etching allowed Schiavone to achieve remarkably delicate textures and expressive gestures that were well suited to devotional subjects. This technique, still relatively new in Italy at the time, helped spread religious imagery beyond churches and into private homes, making sacred figures more accessible to a broader audience. The Metropolitan Museum’s impression, acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1926, preserves the fine details of the apostle’s drapery and the thoughtful tilt of his head. Saint Paul’s dual symbols remind viewers of his transformation from persecutor to preacher, a theme that resonated strongly in Counter-Reformation Europe. Schiavone’s sensitive handling of light and form gives the small print a quiet monumentality, inviting quiet contemplation even today.

About the Artist

Andrea Schiavone (Andrea Meldola) · 1510–1563

Andrea Schiavone, born Andrea Meldolla around 1510 or 1515 in Zara (modern Zadar, Croatia), in Venetian-ruled Dalmatia, hailed from a family rooted in Meldola near Forlì in Romagna, Emilia-Romagna. His father, Simon Meldolla, served as a garrison commander there, and both parents originated from Meldola, where the family held property into the early 16th century. Nicknamed "Schiavone"—"the Slav"—a...