A work made of pen and black ink, with brush and gray wash, heightened with white gouache, on cream laid paper, prepared with a brown wash ground, laid down on cream laid paper.

Saint John the Evangelist

1519

Hans Franckenberger, the Elder German, active 1519-c. 1530

Germany

Early German drawings such as this striking sheet are rare. Here the artist emulated a sculptural relief on a brown wash ground using a chiaroscuro technique (contrasting light and dark). The saint is depicted drawing poison out of a chalice of wine by blessing it, turning the toxin into a snake.

Pen and black ink, with brush and gray wash, heightened with white gouache, on cream laid paper, prepared with a brown wash ground, laid down on cream laid paper

Prints and Drawings