Master E. S.

Master E. S. is an unidentified German engraver, goldsmith, and printmaker of the late Gothic period. He is considered as a major artist of old master prints, and as such was greatly copied and imitated. The name Master E. S. is derived from the monogram, E. S., which appears on eighteen of his prints.

He was probably a native of southwestern Germany, and was active in printmaking from 1450 to 1467, the latest date to appear on one of his prints. He probably had background and training as a goldsmith, rather than as a painter, as he uses some techniques typical for goldsmiths. More than 300 different engraving made by E. S. have survived but only 18 of his works bears his monogram and only 16 were dated by him.

Today it is impossible to know his identity but five hundred years ago he was known to any artist along the Rhine River. His engravings were coveted by artists who used them as models for their own work, pilgrims bought his religious prints by the hundreds as souvenirs of local shrines, and nobility used his designs for card games. The Master was so well known it seemed unnecessary to make any note of his name.