Peter from Christ, the Apostles and St. Paul
Original title: Peter from Christ, the Apostles and St. Paul
kurzbeschreibung
Saint Peter appears in this woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder wearing traditional robes and holding a book and a key. The sheet bears no date and was produced as a woodcut combined with letterpress printing.
Description
Peter stands at the centre, surrounded by a background of stylised clouds and angels ascending toward heaven. Dressed in a long robe and a cap, he holds a book in his right hand and a key ring in his left. An ornamental frame encloses the figure; to its right is a block of text with Latin and German inscriptions. The monochrome palette and precise linework are characteristic of Renaissance woodcut art.
Context
Lucas Cranach the Elder, a leading German painter and printmaker of the Renaissance, was closely connected to Martin Luther and the Reformation. Prints such as this often served to spread religious content and appeared in broadsheets or books. Image and text together were a common means of bringing biblical themes to a wide audience.
Impact
The precise linework and Peter's calm, frontal pose give the sheet a dignified and instructive presence. The ornamental frame and inserted texts create a clear structure that invites the viewer to look and read.
Technique
For this work the design was cut into a woodblock and then transferred to paper with printing ink. The accompanying texts were produced by letterpress with movable type. The monochrome design and fine lines testify to Cranach's high level of craftsmanship.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)