Artwork preview

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

German 15th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image shows two figures. One figure is depicted from the waist up, leaning out from a large wooden cross. This figure has unkempt, long hair and wears a crown of thorns. They have a somber expression with closed eyes. The other figure, kneeling, is clothed in a long, black robe with a hood. This person has short, light brown hair with a white band around it and is looking up at the figure on the cross. Their face expresses focus with wide, outlined eyes and an open mouth. The kneeling figure holds the other person around the waist with both hands. In the background, there is a simple depiction of green floor with a beige backdrop, bordered with a red frame. A pair of black slippers are at the base of the cross, on the green ground.

Artwork Details

Date
c. 1470/1475
Medium
woodcut, hand-colored in black, yellow, green, orange, gold, and red
Dimensions
2652 × 3454 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette