Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Renaissance Engravings by Sebald Beham

Sebald Beham
The Penance of St John Chrysostom
1540s
engraving
British Museum

"The depiction of the Penance of St. John Chrysostom is based on a late medieval legend according to which the hermit saint had seduced a girl. Following the birth of a child, he killed both mother and offspring. The saint was subsequently filled with such remorse that he could not look up to the sky and hence crawled on all fours until the newborn son of a queen pardoned him. Mother and child were then restored to life."

 from curator's notes at the British Museum

Sebald Beham
The Justice of Trajan
1537
engraving
British Museum

Another popular legend exploited by Sebald Beham as a subject was the Justice of Trajan. According to this story, the busy Emperor Trajan, preparing a war campaign, was interrupted by a mother whose son had been murdered. Trajan asked her to wait until his return from the war. She answered that he might not return at all. This argument persuaded the Emperor to stop what he was doing and "dispense justice" to this bold, grief-stricken woman.

Sebald Beham
Emperor Trajan
1546
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Domitia Calvilla
1546
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Female profiles
1542
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Male Profiles
1542
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Four Male Heads
1546
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Two Horse Heads
1520s
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Horses
1520s
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Alexander the Great
ca. 1531-50
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Shepherd
1525
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Triton and Nereid
1523
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Satyr playing the Lyre
ca. 1531-50
engraving
British Museum

Sebald Beham
Satyress playing Bagpipes
ca. 1531-50
engraving
British Museum

She sings, we are mute: when is my spring coming? 
When shall I be as the swallow, that I may cease to be voiceless?

 from the late Latin Hymn to Venus, Pervigilium Veneris

I am grateful to the British Museum for the excellent reproductions.