Matthew from Christ, the Apostles and St. Paul
Original title: Matthew from Christ, the Apostles and St. Paul
kurzbeschreibung
This undated woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder comes from the series Christus, die Apostel und der heilige Paulus. It shows the evangelist Matthew with a beard and crown, holding a book in his right hand and pointing to it with his left. The sheet measures 31.4 × 18.8 cm and is printed on paper.
Description
Matthew stands frontally before us, bearded and crowned, wrapped in a long-sleeved robe and mantle. His right hand holds a book, his left points to it. Barefoot, he stands on a pedestal that is symmetrically flanked by stylized flowers and tendrils. The layout is centered and balanced; clear, fine lines define the view, as is typical of Renaissance woodcut.
Context
Around 1512–1516, during his time as court painter in Wittenberg, Lucas Cranach the Elder created this series with Christ, the twelve apostles, and Paul. The sheets often circulated as single-leaf prints and served for religious instruction; because they were reproducible, they found wide distribution. The exact date of this copy is unknown, but it belongs to Cranach's printed oeuvre from the workshop.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and clear linework give the sheet a calm, dignified presence. Crown and book underscore the evangelist's authority, while the floral tendrils form an ornamental frame. The monochrome palette directs the eye to the precise contour and the detailed accuracy of the figure.
Technique
For this woodcut, the design was cut into a wooden block and then printed on paper. The lines appear precise and fine, suggesting careful execution of the cut. Even distribution of light and monochrome coloring are characteristic of this printing technique, which allowed for large editions.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)