Sacred art

The library’s common collection of sacred art — 83 reproductions whose copyright has long expired, matted like plates tipped into a fine edition and credited to their painters. The same works appear throughout the site, chosen to sit beside the texts they illuminate; here they are gathered in one place. Every plate links to its source on Wikimedia Commons, and a few carry a note of their own on where the picture came from and who it was long mistaken for.

Raphael · Fra Angelico · Caravaggio · Rembrandt · El Greco · Titian · Leonardo · Velázquez · Botticelli · Giotto · van Eyck · Guido Reni

23 plates

Our Lady

The Mother of God — from the Annunciation to her Assumption and crowning.

The Sistine Madonna, Raphael, 1512 — public domain — The Sistine MadonnaRaphael · 1512

The Annunciation, Fra Angelico, c. 1440 — public domain — The AnnunciationFra Angelico · c. 1440

The Rucellai Madonna, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1285 — public domain — The Rucellai MadonnaDuccio di Buoninsegna · 1285

The Immaculate Conception, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1660 — public domain — The Immaculate ConceptionBartolomé Esteban Murillo · c. 1660

The Angelus, Jean-François Millet, 1857–59 — public domain — The AngelusJean-François Millet · 1857–59

The Assumption of the Virgin, Titian, 1516–18 — public domain — The Assumption of the VirginTitian · 1516–18

The Virgin of the Rocks, Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1485 — public domain — The Virgin of the RocksLeonardo da Vinci · c. 1485

The Coronation of the Virgin, Diego Velázquez, c. 1635 — public domain — The Coronation of the VirginDiego Velázquez · c. 1635

The Mystical Nativity, Sandro Botticelli, c. 1500 — public domain — The Mystical NativitySandro Botticelli · c. 1500

The Newborn, Georges de La Tour, c. 1648 — public domain — The NewbornGeorges de La Tour · c. 1648

The Madonna and Child with Saint Anne, Masaccio and Masolino, c. 1424 — public domain — The Madonna and Child with Saint AnneMasaccio and Masolino · c. 1424

The Visitation, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1491 — public domain — The VisitationDomenico Ghirlandaio · 1491

Our Lady of Lourdes, Virgilio Tojetti, 1877 — public domain — Our Lady of LourdesVirgilio Tojetti · 1877

The Virgin in Prayer, Sassoferrato, c. 1650 — public domain — The Virgin in PrayerSassoferrato · c. 1650

The Madonna of the Rosary, Caravaggio, 1607 — public domain — The Madonna of the RosaryCaravaggio · 1607

The Apparition of the Virgin to Saint Simon Stock, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1749 — public domain — The Apparition of the Virgin to Saint Simon StockGiovanni Battista Tiepolo · c. 1749

Mater Dolorosa, Titian, 1554 — public domain — Mater DolorosaTitian · 1554

The Immaculate Conception, Diego Velázquez, c. 1618 — public domain — The Immaculate ConceptionDiego Velázquez · c. 1618

The Coronation of the Virgin, Fra Angelico, c. 1435 — public domain — The Coronation of the VirginFra Angelico · c. 1435

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Unknown, 1531 — public domain — Our Lady of GuadalupeUnknown · 1531

Shepherdess with her Flock, Jean-François Millet, 1863 — public domain — Shepherdess with her FlockJean-François Millet · 1863

Mary, Undoer of Knots, Johann Georg Schmidtner, c. 1700 — public domain — Mary, Undoer of KnotsJohann Georg Schmidtner · c. 1700

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Unknown, c. 1400 — public domain — Our Lady of Perpetual HelpUnknown · c. 1400

29 plates

The Life of Christ

From the manger to the empty tomb, and the parables and miracles between.

The Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622 — public domain — The Adoration of the ShepherdsGerard van Honthorst · 1622

The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pompeo Batoni, 1767 — public domain — The Sacred Heart of JesusPompeo Batoni · 1767

The Sermon on the Mount, Carl Bloch, 1877 — public domain — The Sermon on the MountCarl Bloch · 1877

The Sermon on the Mount, Fra Angelico, c. 1440 — public domain — The Sermon on the MountFra Angelico · c. 1440

The Baptism of Christ, El Greco, 1597 — public domain — The Baptism of ChristEl Greco · 1597

The Calling of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio, c. 1600 — public domain — The Calling of Saint MatthewCaravaggio · c. 1600

The Transfiguration, Raphael, 1520 — public domain — The TransfigurationRaphael · 1520

Head of Christ, Rembrandt, c. 1648 — public domain — Head of ChristRembrandt · c. 1648

Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery, Rembrandt, 1644 — public domain — Christ and the Woman Taken in AdulteryRembrandt · 1644

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, c. 1668 — public domain — The Return of the Prodigal SonRembrandt · c. 1668

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt, 1633 — public domain — Christ in the Storm on the Sea of GalileeRembrandt · 1633

The Lamentation of Christ, Giotto, c. 1305 — public domain — The Lamentation of ChristGiotto · c. 1305

Christ Crucified, Diego Velázquez, c. 1632 — public domain — Christ CrucifiedDiego Velázquez · c. 1632

The Resurrection, Piero della Francesca, c. 1463 — public domain — The ResurrectionPiero della Francesca · c. 1463

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio, c. 1602 — public domain — The Incredulity of Saint ThomasCaravaggio · c. 1602

The Last Supper, Philippe de Champaigne, c. 1652 — public domain — The Last SupperPhilippe de Champaigne · c. 1652

The Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio, 1601 — public domain — The Supper at EmmausCaravaggio · 1601

The Supper at Emmaus, Rembrandt, 1648 — public domain — The Supper at EmmausRembrandt · 1648

Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Ghent Altarpiece), Jan van Eyck, 1432 — public domain — Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Ghent Altarpiece)Jan van Eyck · 1432

The Journey of the Magi, Sassetta, c. 1433 — public domain — The Journey of the MagiSassetta · c. 1433

Simeon in the Temple, Rembrandt, c. 1631 — public domain — Simeon in the TempleRembrandt · c. 1631

Jesus among the Doctors, Albrecht Dürer, 1506 — public domain — Jesus among the DoctorsAlbrecht Dürer · 1506

The Wedding at Cana, Paolo Veronese, 1563 — public domain — The Wedding at CanaPaolo Veronese · 1563

The Agony in the Garden, Giovanni Bellini, c. 1459–65 — public domain — The Agony in the GardenGiovanni Bellini · c. 1459–65

The Flagellation of Christ, Caravaggio, 1607 — public domain — The Flagellation of ChristCaravaggio · 1607

The Crowning with Thorns, Caravaggio, c. 1603 — public domain — The Crowning with ThornsCaravaggio · c. 1603

Christ Carrying the Cross, El Greco, c. 1580 — public domain — Christ Carrying the CrossEl Greco · c. 1580

The Ascension of Christ, Rembrandt, 1636 — public domain — The Ascension of ChristRembrandt · 1636

The Book of Kells: Christ Enthroned, Unknown, c. 800 — public domain — The Book of Kells: Christ EnthronedUnknown · c. 800

2 plates

The Mystery of God

The Holy Trinity and the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost.

The Holy Trinity, El Greco, 1577–79 — public domain — The Holy TrinityEl Greco · 1577–79

Pentecost, El Greco, c. 1600 — public domain — PentecostEl Greco · c. 1600

6 plates

The Angels

Michael, the guardians, and the messengers of God.

The Archangel Michael Defeating Satan, Guido Reni, 1636 — public domain — The Archangel Michael Defeating SatanGuido Reni · 1636

The Guardian Angel, After Domenichino, 1615 — public domain — The Guardian AngelAfter Domenichino · 1615

Saint George and the Dragon, Raphael, c. 1506 — public domain — Saint George and the DragonRaphael · c. 1506

Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, Rembrandt, c. 1659 — public domain — Jacob Wrestling with the AngelRembrandt · c. 1659

Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan, Raphael, 1518 — public domain — Saint Michael Vanquishing SatanRaphael · 1518

The Three Archangels and Tobias, Francesco Botticini, c. 1470 — public domain — The Three Archangels and TobiasFrancesco Botticini · c. 1470 · Note →

23 plates

The Saints

Those who ran the race before us, each with their sign.

Saint Joseph and the Christ Child, Guido Reni, c. 1635 — public domain — Saint Joseph and the Christ ChildGuido Reni · c. 1635

Saint Anthony of Padua with the Christ Child, Antonio de Pereda, c. 1650 — public domain — Saint Anthony of Padua with the Christ ChildAntonio de Pereda · c. 1650

Saint Cecilia, Guido Reni, 1606 — public domain — Saint CeciliaGuido Reni · 1606

Saint Jerome and the Angel of Judgment, Jusepe de Ribera, 1626 — public domain — Saint Jerome and the Angel of JudgmentJusepe de Ribera · 1626

Saint Catherine of Siena, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1746 — public domain — Saint Catherine of SienaGiovanni Battista Tiepolo · c. 1746

Saint Alphonsus Maria de’ Liguori, Unknown engraver, 19th century — public domain — Saint Alphonsus Maria de’ LiguoriUnknown engraver · 19th century

Saint Blaise, Pere Fernández, c. 1520 — public domain — Saint BlaisePere Fernández · c. 1520

The Translation of Saint Rita of Cascia, Nicolas Poussin, c. 1630 — public domain — The Translation of Saint Rita of CasciaNicolas Poussin · c. 1630

The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1660 — public domain — The Vision of Saint Anthony of PaduaBartolomé Esteban Murillo · c. 1660

Saints Augustine and Monica, Ary Scheffer, 1854 — public domain — Saints Augustine and MonicaAry Scheffer · 1854

Saint Francis in the Desert, Giovanni Bellini, c. 1480 — public domain — Saint Francis in the DesertGiovanni Bellini · c. 1480

Saint Francis in Meditation, Francisco de Zurbarán, 1639 — public domain — Saint Francis in MeditationFrancisco de Zurbarán · 1639

Saint Cajetan's Vision of the Holy Family, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, c. 1736 — public domain — Saint Cajetan's Vision of the Holy FamilyGiovanni Battista Tiepolo · c. 1736

Saint Gertrude, Miguel Cabrera, 1763 — public domain — Saint GertrudeMiguel Cabrera · 1763

Saint Augustine in His Study, Sandro Botticelli, c. 1480 — public domain — Saint Augustine in His StudySandro Botticelli · c. 1480

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Carlo Crivelli, 1476 — public domain — Saint Thomas AquinasCarlo Crivelli · 1476

The Ecstasy of Saint Catherine of Siena, Il Sodoma, c. 1526 — public domain — The Ecstasy of Saint Catherine of SienaIl Sodoma · c. 1526

Saint Dymphna Baptised by Gerebernus, Goswin van der Weyden, c. 1505 — public domain — Saint Dymphna Baptised by GerebernusGoswin van der Weyden · c. 1505

Christ Healing Saint Peregrine, Cosimo Ulivelli, 1675 — public domain — Christ Healing Saint PeregrineCosimo Ulivelli · 1675

Tobias and the Angel, Andrea del Verrocchio, c. 1470 — public domain — Tobias and the AngelAndrea del Verrocchio · c. 1470

Saint Benedict Admitting Saints Maurus and Placidus, Lorenzo Monaco, 1409 — public domain — Saint Benedict Admitting Saints Maurus and PlacidusLorenzo Monaco · 1409

Saint Lucy, Francesco del Cossa, c. 1473 — public domain — Saint LucyFrancesco del Cossa · c. 1473

The Young Beggar, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1648 — public domain — The Young BeggarBartolomé Esteban Murillo · c. 1648