Frederick the Wise of Saxony Adoring St Bartholomew
Original title: Frederick the Wise of Saxony Adoring St Bartholomew
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1508–09, Lucas Cranach the Elder made this engraving of Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony kneeling before Saint Bartholomew. The saint stands at the center, flanked by angels. The print served as a devotional image, linking the ruler's piety with his veneration of his patron saint.
Description
A radiant halo surrounds Bartholomew, who holds the knife of his martyrdom. Angels hover around him, some in robes, others with musical instruments. Frederick the Wise kneels at his feet, wearing a robe and holding a book or document. Clouds and a shield with a serpent appear in the background—a reference to the legend that Bartholomew was stung by a snake. The layout is symmetrical: the saint as the center, the angels as a frame.
Context
Likely commissioned by Frederick the Wise, who as Elector of Saxony promoted the Reformation and the arts. Bartholomew was the patron saint of the Wettin dynasty, the Saxon ruling house—hence the choice of subject. Cranach was then working as court painter in Wittenberg and was in close contact with Frederick the Wise.
Impact
A calm, devout mood greets the viewer, carried by the symmetrical arrangement and the central position of the saint. The precise linework and graded shading give the scene plasticity and direct the gaze to the piety of the figure portrayed.
Technique
As an engraving, the lines were incised into a copper plate and then printed on paper. This method allows a detailed rendering of particulars and shadows, as is characteristic of Cranach's style. The monochrome view models light and shade solely through the gradation of lines.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)