The Mass of Saint Gregory 1511
albrechtdurer
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, woodcut
comic strip sketch
germany
mechanical pen drawing
pen illustration
pen sketch
junji ito style
personal sketchbook
sketchwork
pen-ink sketch
woodcut
pen work
storyboard and sketchbook work
Albrecht Dürer's "The Mass of Saint Gregory" is a 1511 engraving that depicts the moment when the saint, while saying mass, sees a vision of Christ on the cross. The dramatic and dynamic scene, filled with intricate details, is a perfect example of Dürer's mastery of the engraving technique. The artwork portrays the mystical experience of St. Gregory, with the angel hovering over the scene and the saint himself kneeling in awe and prayer. The detailed rendering of the figures and the setting, along with the use of chiaroscuro, creates a powerful and moving image, highlighting the spiritual fervor of the moment.
Comments
While celebrating Mass in Rome, Pope Gregory the Great reportedly saw Christ miraculously rise above a sarcophagus, accompanied by symbols of the Passion. This legend gave birth to the Gregorian Man of Sorrows. With an eye to naturalism, Albrecht Dürer leaned a small devotional picture against the altar, perhaps to model for the viewer how contemplation can lead to visualization.
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