Heilige Hiltrude 1617

Theodoor Galle's 1617 engraving, "Heilige Hiltrude," depicts Saint Hiltrude, a 7th-century abbess, holding a book and a lamp. The central image is framed by an elaborate decorative border that includes four circular scenes from Hiltrude's life. This intricate composition showcases Galle's masterful skill in etching, creating fine detail and delicate shading. The engraving, housed in the Rijksmuseum, was likely created as a devotional work for the religious order of Saint Benedict and offers a visual representation of Hiltrude's piety and scholarship.