James the Greater from the Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles
Original title: James The Greater from the Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Cranach the Elder captures Saint James the Greater at the moment of his martyrdom. The sheet belongs to a series on the twelve apostles and was made as a woodcut. It shows the kneeling saint surrounded by his tormentors.
Description
A kneeling man occupies the foreground while a crowd of men closes in on him. Several of the attackers wear armor and helmets, marking them as soldiers. A horseman looks down at the kneeling figure, perhaps a figure of authority. Trees and coats of arms fill the rear area. The layout feels restless and clearly focuses attention on the central kneeling man.
Context
The woodcut series on the martyrdoms of the twelve apostles that Lucas Cranach the Elder created enjoyed great popularity during the Reformation. No exact date of origin is known; the work belongs to a series that came out of Cranach's workshop. Prints of this kind were often used in religious instruction and in spreading biblical narratives.
Impact
A dramatic yet detached mood emanates from the sheet, characteristic of woodcuts of that era. Because the light is evenly distributed and the lines are clearly drawn, nothing distracts from the central event. The detailed execution and the animated arrangement of the figures give the scene liveliness.
Technique
This work is a woodcut. In this printing technique, the design is cut into a wooden block and then printed onto paper. Clear and precise lines distinguish the sheet, which is characteristic of woodcuts of the period. The monochrome coloring and the even distribution of light are typical features of the process.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)