Saint Mathias

The saint is portrayed as an elderly man with a voluminous beard and heavy robes, standing before a rocky, barren outcrop. He grips a large sword, the instrument of his martyrdom, in his right hand while resting his left hand on an open book signifying the Gospel. The work showcases the artist's signature technique of swelling and tapering lines to define the deep folds of the fabric and the weathered texture of the skin.

As the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, Matthias represents the restoration of the sacred number twelve, a figure of significant numerological importance in both Christian and Neoplatonic thought regarding cosmic and divine order. This print is a primary example of the Haarlem Mannerist style, which combined high technical artifice with a renewed focus on expressive human anatomy.