Silver Statuette of St. Bartholomew from the Wittenberg Reliquaries
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. Bartholomew from the Wittenberg Reliquaries
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the other sheets from the Wittenberg reliquary book, this woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder places a silver statuette of Saint Bartholomew at its center. The undated print measures 13 × 6 cm and belongs to a series that recorded the relics of the Wittenberg Castle Church.
Description
Bartholomew holds a book in his right hand, while his left points to a page. Over a long-sleeved robe falls a cloak that slips from the shoulder. Curly hair reaches to his shoulders, and a halo surrounds his face. The background stays plain, but the ground is adorned with a coat of arms or emblem.
Context
Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, assembled the Wittenberg reliquaries, which were kept in the Castle Church. For the reliquary book, published around 1509, Cranach the Elder made the woodcuts. The series comprised more than 100 sheets documenting the relics and their containers.
Impact
The precise linework and clear layout hint at the preciousness of the silver statuette. The halo and the calm, dignified posture emphasize Bartholomew's holiness.
Technique
This sheet is a woodcut, a relief printing process in which the design is cut into a wooden block and then printed on paper. Cranach the Elder used fine, exact cuts to bring out details such as the curls and the halo. The contrast between dark lines and light ground characterizes his printed graphics.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)