Silver Statuette of St. John the Baptist from the Wittenberg Reliquaries
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. John the Baptist from the Wittenberg Reliquaries
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Cranach the Elder reproduced a silver statuette of Saint John the Baptist from the Wittenberg reliquaries in this woodcut. The undated sheet measures 13.4 × 6 cm and presents the sculpture as a precise graphic reproduction.
Description
John appears in traditional garb, the folds worked out with fine lines and shading. In his right hand he holds a vessel, in his left a bowl. Curly, wavy hair frames his head; over the long robe that falls to the bottom lies a mantle. At the saint's feet is a base with a stylized animal motif that recalls a fish or similar creature. The background remains plain and monochrome, while the drawing employs exact, detailed lines.
Context
The Wittenberg reliquaries trace back to a famous collection of saints' relics assembled by Frederick the Wise. As court painter in Wittenberg, Lucas Cranach the Elder produced numerous woodcuts that recorded these reliquaries. The prints served as an inventory and helped disseminate the collection. No precise date for the sheet is known; it was presumably made in the early 16th century.
Impact
The nuanced linework brings the precious silver statuette vividly to life. Despite the monochrome, the image appears plastic and rich in detail. The viewer gains a close look at the artistic shaping of the reliquary figure.
Technique
The woodcut as a relief printing process uses a wooden block into which the motif is cut and from which it is then printed onto paper. The exact lines and shadings attest to high manual skill. The sheet is printed on one side and measures 13.4 × 6 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)