Glass Design with Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist

Hans Kaspar Lang the Elder

National Gallery of Art

The image is an intricate drawing with a scrollwork design. Two half-figures of men are shown on either side of the central section. The man on the left stands on a pedestal, facing slightly right, and appears to be holding an object. He has curly hair and a beard, and wears a draped garment. The man on the right is also standing on a pedestal, has long curly hair, a clean-shaven face, and is draped in flowing robes while holding a spherical object. Each man is backed by a decorative pillar and has a circular halo around his head. The upper part of the drawing features an elaborate architectural border with cherubic figures and intricate detailing. In the upper corners, scenes with smaller human figures are depicted in classical architectural settings. A helmeted face is centered at the top of this border, flanked by two cherubic figures holding cornucopias. The central part of the drawing is blank except for scrollwork and heraldic embellishments. Below this, two cherubic figures play with cartouches and a lion figure as part of the ornate framing. The background is filled with mythological and lavish motifs, and the image is monochromatic, likely sketched in pen and ink.