Saint Matthew, from The Four Evangelists 1539

This 1539 engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever depicts Saint Matthew receiving inspiration from a divine figure seated in the clouds. The image, part of a series of four evangelists, exemplifies the German Renaissance style, characterized by its fine detail and strong sense of realism. Aldegrever utilizes hatching and cross-hatching techniques to create a sense of depth and volume in the figures' drapery and the celestial background. The scene is filled with symbolism, with the divine figure holding an open book representing the Gospel of Matthew, and Saint Matthew holding a scroll, signifying the act of writing. This engraving, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offers a glimpse into the religious and artistic landscape of sixteenth-century Germany.