2-737-773 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Pietà, c. 1460. Early woodcuts usually illustrate religious subjects for the spiritual edification of a mostly illiterate public. Produced by anonymous craftsmen, these simple, direct images facilitated an intimate dialogue between the individual and the holy figure depicted. This pietà was probably inspired by sculptures of the subject, common in Germany. Printed on a full sheet of paper, the image was hand coloured with watercolour. Remnants of adhesive on the verso and holes caused by insects suggest that it was pasted inside the cover of a book, which preserved it. There are only about 20 northern single-image woodcuts extant. Extraordinary in its large size, fresh colour, and good state of preservation, this sheet is the only known impression of the image.