The Angel of Saint Matthew

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool picture! It's called "The Angel of Saint Matthew," and it's super old – from way back in 1490! That's almost 600 years ago! Can you imagine what life was like then? nn

So, this picture is a print, which means it's like a copy made from a special plate. The artist, Martin Schongauer, was super skilled! He used only black ink, but look how many different shades he made! It's like magic, isn't it? Does anyone see the different shades of black? What do you think he did to make them? nn

See this angel? He's sitting down, very calmly. He's got big, fluffy wings, even bigger than mine! And look at his clothes – all those folds and wrinkles! The artist was really good at showing how cloth falls. What do you think the angel is thinking about? nn

The angel is surrounded by a circle. Why do you think the artist chose a circle? Circles are often special shapes. And see that little "M S" at the bottom? That's the artist's signature, like your name on your drawings! nn

This picture is all about faith and belief. The angel is holding a scroll, like a long piece of paper with writing on it. We can't read what it says, but it's part of the mystery of the picture. What do you think might be written on the scroll? nn

This painting shows us how artists a long, long time ago were amazing at their work. They didn't have cameras or computers, just their skill and imagination! It's a window into the past, showing us what people believed in and how they expressed their faith. Isn't that amazing? What's your favorite part of the picture? nn

I hope you enjoyed learning about "The Angel of Saint Matthew"! Remember, art is all around us, and it can tell us so many stories! Now, let's go see some more amazing art!