Saint Philip, book in his left hand, staff resting on his left arm, from "Piccoli Santi" (Small Saints)
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 3 1/4 x 1 7/8 in. (8.2 x 4.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.97.42
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *Saint Philip, book in his left hand, resting on his left arm a delicate engraving from the "Piccoli Santi"Small Saints) series, around 1500–27. This intimate print, measuring just 3¼ × 1⅞ inches, captures the apostle Saint Philip in a moment of quiet devotion. He holds a book—symbolizing scripture or his role as an evangelist—in his left hand, while his staff leans gently on his arm, evoking his journeys as a missionary and perhaps alluding to the cross of his martyrdom, as suggested by the work's tags. Engraved by Marcantonio Raimondi after a design by the Renaissance master Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio), this piece exemplifies the collaborative genius of early 16th-century Italy. Raphael, a pillar of High Renaissance art, provided the graceful composition, while Raimondi, one of the era's premier printmakers, translated it into intricate lines using engraving techniques. This burin-work on metal plate allowed for precise detailing and tonal depth, making high art accessible beyond paintings. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this "Small Saint" highlights engraving's revolutionary role in democratizing Renaissance imagery. Saints like Philip, often depicted with books and crosses, inspired pilgrims and the faithful, bridging sacred history with everyday devotion in a portable format. A testament to artistic innovation, it invites us to ponder faith's enduring visual poetry.
About the Artist
Marcantonio Raimondi|Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) · 1475–1534
Marcantonio Raimondi (c. 1480–1534), born near Bologna, Italy, emerged as one of the Renaissance's premier engravers, revolutionizing printmaking through his mastery of reproductive techniques. He trained in the workshop of the goldsmith, painter, and niellist Francesco Francia, whose influence is evident in his early engravings, such as the goldsmith-like shading in *Pyramus and Thisbe* (1505), h...