St Augustine, from The Fathers of the Church

Art Historical Context

In the early 17th century, Dutch engraver Jacob Matham *St. Augustine, from The Fathers of the Church*, striking print from a series honoring the influential early Christian theologians. Dated 1600, this engraving captures the revered saint—known for his profound writings on faith, grace, and original sin—in a dignified pose, emblematic of Counter-Reformation reverence for Church Fathers like Augustine of Hippo (354–430 CE). Matham, a master printmaker trained under Hendrick Goltzius, blended Northern Mannerist elegance with intricate detail, making religious figures accessible through affordable reproductions. Executed as an engraving on luxurious ivory laid paper, the work showcases Matham's virtuoso technique: fine lines incised into a metal plate, inked, and pressed to yield rich tonal contrasts and textures. The plate measures 29.4 × 21.8 cm, with the full sheet slightly larger at 33.9 × 23 cm, allowing for generous margins ideal for collectors. Engravings like this democratized art during the Dutch Golden Age, bridging elite patronage and broader audiences. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this piece highlights engraving's role in disseminating Catholic iconography amid Protestant challenges, inviting visitors to ponder Augustine's enduring legacy in theology and philosophy.

About the Artist

Jacob Matham · 1571–1631

**Jacob Matham: Master Engraver of Haarlem** Jacob Matham was born on October 15, 1571, in Haarlem, in the Northern Netherlands, into a burgeoning artistic milieu. Following his father's early death, his mother married the renowned painter and engraver Hendrick Goltzius in 1579, who adopted the young Jacob and trained him rigorously in the workshop as his stepson and pupil. Matham's first signed ...