Silver Statuette of St. Peter from the Wittenberg Reliquaries
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. Peter from the Wittenberg Reliquaries
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Cranach the Elder recorded the silver statuette of Saint Peter from the Wittenberg reliquaries as a woodcut. The undated sheet measures 13 × 6 cm and shows the saint reading, wearing a long-sleeved robe and a cap inscribed "SANCTUS PETRUS."
Description
Peter stands at the center of the image on a stylized base with wave motifs. He holds a book in his hands; his robe has wide sleeves, and the cap bears the inscription "SANCTUS PETRUS." The layout is symmetrical, with the figure placed dead center. As a woodcut the image stays monochrome, the light falls evenly, and the lines are fine and clear.
Context
The sheet belongs to the circle of the Wittenberg relic collection assembled by Frederick the Wise. Cranach the Elder served as court painter in Wittenberg from 1505 and produced numerous prints for the Saxon electoral court. The view most likely served as a catalogue illustration for the relics in the Castle Church. No exact date has come down to us.
Impact
Clear lines and the symmetrical arrangement give the sheet a calm, dignified presence. The delicate internal drawing of the robes and base feels almost metallic in its precision, recalling the original silver object.
Technique
For this woodcut the design was cut into a woodblock and afterward printed onto paper. The process allows fine lines and an even layer of ink, here black on a light ground. The small format of 13 × 6 cm points to a richly detailed execution.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)