Christ in the Desert with Six Angels - Master of the Catherine Wheel

Gift of Mrs. Potter Palmer, Jr.

Ancient Art Drawings European Art Prints

"Christ in the Desert with Six Angels" by Master of the Catherine Wheel (c. 1490) Engraving on paper.

Commentary

"Christ in the Desert with Six Angels" by Master of the Catherine Wheel (c. 1490) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. The print-based method rewards close viewing, where line, texture, and contrast do most o f the expressive work. Themes to notice include engraving. This piece is held in the source collection's Prints and Drawings collection. Master of the Catherine Wheel is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Master of the Catherine Wheel (German, active late 15th century) after Martin Schongauer (German, c. The work is cataloged within a Germany cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as engraving, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Engraving on paper) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (Sheet trimmed within platemark: 29.9 × 22.4 cm (11 13/16 × 8 7/8 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include engraving. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/86263

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data