Description
Martin Schongaruer's Engravings
Martin Schongauer (c. 1448 - February 2, 1491) was a German painter and engraver. While he produced some magnificent paintings, the bulk of his life was spent on engravings. He is considered the most important German engraver before Albrect Durer. Many of his images are religious, though a few comedic are to be found as well. He created means of using cross-hatch lines to give a print volume, one which Durer further developed.
One hundred sixteen engravings are attributed to him. However, since several of those are known only a single impression, it is likely that there were more that were lost over the years. His characteristic initials "M+S" are seen on not only on his own engravings, but also in the prints of his students (he started a school to continue the art) as well as on engravings that were likely copied by unrelated artists.
The printing date of the prints for sale here is unknown. The paper type and collector's stamp found on a few give a slight indication.