Saint Philip c. 1490 - 1500

This is Saint Philip, an engraving by Master FVB, created around the late 15th century. During this period, the representation of saints often reinforced the power and authority of the Church. But look closely: does this image challenge those conventions? Philip stands holding a cross and a book, symbols of his faith and knowledge. The fine lines of the engraving create a sense of solemnity, yet there’s also an intimacy in the way his figure fills the frame. Consider the role of religious imagery at the time. How did artists negotiate the expectations of their patrons with their own creative vision? Was it possible to portray the humanity of religious figures in a way that both inspired devotion and encouraged personal reflection? I wonder how viewers then, and now, might find a connection between the divine and the everyday in this image.