ORThe Open Room
Digital gallery
Back to the NGA collection
The image shows a winged figure standing in a contrapposto pose. They have a calm expression, intricate hair with a leaf crown, and wear draped classical attire. They hold a heart emitting sun rays in their left hand and a staff in their right hand. A snake is at their feet. The background shows a paved area with sparse vegetation. Inscriptions are present in the image.
Read the visual description

The image shows a winged figure standing in a contrapposto pose. They have a calm expression, intricate hair with a leaf crown, and wear draped classical attire. They hold a heart emitting sun rays in their left hand and a staff in their right hand. A snake is at their feet. The background shows a paved area with sparse vegetation. Inscriptions are present in the image.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Allegory of Christianity

Sebald Beham

Date
c. 1540/1549
Medium
engraving
Classification
Print
Accession number
1943.3.1068
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1501 to 1550
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Angel
  • German
  • Woman
  • Sun
  • Costume
  • Snake
Provenance

(sale, C.G. Boerner, Leipzig, May 7-9, 1928, lot 152); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA (Lugt 1760b); gift to NGA, 1943.

NGA object ID 4286. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.