Why it matters
Saint Luke, patron of artists, kneels to sketch the Virgin as she nurses the Child. Luke's face is accepted as Rogier van der Weyden's self-portrait, making the painting a statement about the role of the artist.
Did you know?
- It was painted around 1435–1440.
- It is closely based on Jan van Eyck's Madonna of Chancellor Rolin.
- Other versions are in Saint Petersburg, Munich and Bruges; the Boston panel is considered the original.
Based on the Wikipedia article Saint Luke Drawing the Virgin (CC BY-SA 4.0).
