Philippus 1545

Sebald Beham created this piece, Philippus, in 1545 using engraving. Beham was one of the most important of the German Little Masters, a group of printmakers who made very small, intricate engravings. This image presents the Apostle Philip, identified by the inscription. The halo signifies his sainthood. He's shown holding a book and a cross-topped staff, symbols of his faith and mission. Notice the bare feet and simple robes; this is a visual representation of humility, a virtue highly esteemed in the religious context of the time. Northern Renaissance artists like Beham were keen on representing religious figures with a renewed sense of humanism, focusing on their individual stories and emotional lives. The small scale of the print also made it accessible for personal devotion. Beham's Philippus invites us to reflect on faith, simplicity, and the power of individual belief. It serves as a poignant reminder of the personal dimensions of religion during the Reformation era.