Saint Luke Drawing a Portrait of the Virgin

Israhel van Meckenem

National Gallery of Art

The image shows two figures, a seated woman and a kneeling man, within an indoor space resembling a chapel or sacred room. The seated woman is holding a nude child on her lap. She has long hair and serene facial features. The kneeling man has curly hair and is wearing a long robe and a cap, holding a scroll or image with both hands. An angel is hovering above them with wings spread, resting their hands on a pillar. In the background, there are tall, narrow, arched windows with lattice designs and furniture on the right. The room features architectural elements suggesting it is part of a larger building, such as arches and columns, and offers a view of rooftops and a distant structure through the windows.