Bust of Saint Peter, from the "Large Series of Wittenberg Reliquaries"; verso: Martin Luther (1548)
Original title: Bust of Saint Peter, from the "Large Series of Wittenberg Reliquaries"; verso: Martin Luther (1548)
kurzbeschreibung
This sheet from Lucas Cranach the Elder's 'Great Series of Wittenberg Relics' of 1509 presents the bust of Saint Peter, holding a key and a ring of keys, surrounded by clouds. The reverse carries a portrait of Martin Luther from 1548.
Description
Unlike many saintly depictions, this print brings Peter close as a bust: thick, wavy hair and a full, curly beard frame his face. The garment falls in folds that the woodcut articulates clearly. His right hand grasps a key, and to its left appears a ring with several keys. The ground stays plain and shows clouds; above, the Latin name 'S. Petrus' stands in clear lettering.
Context
Created in 1509 as part of a series illustrating the relics assembled by Frederick the Wise in the Wittenberg Castle Church, the sheet reflects Cranach's role as court painter in Wittenberg from 1505, spreading veneration of the relics through such prints. The Luther portrait of 1548 on the reverse shows that the sheet was later reused in a Reformation context.
Impact
Strong contours and dense linework give the Peter image something lively and at the same time monumental. The frontal, calm posture and the keys as attributes lend the view dignity and authority.
Technique
For this woodcut, the motif was cut into a woodblock and then pulled onto paper. This produces sharp lines and clear contrasts that precisely render hair, beard, and garment folds. The sheet measures 15.3 × 11.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)