Silver Statuette of St. John, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries" (Woodcut, Met-Objekt 2459)
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. John, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
kurzbeschreibung
A silver figure of John stands on an ornate pedestal, captured in a woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder. This undated sheet belongs to the Wittenberg Reliquaries series and presents the statuette in a strictly vertical arrangement. The image is rendered in monochrome, true to the woodcut medium.
Description
Saint John wears a long, sleeved robe that reaches down to his feet. In his right hand he holds a chalice-like vessel; curly, wavy hair frames his head, which is covered by a headpiece or helmet. The figure stands on a base decorated with grapes and other plant motifs. The layout is tall and narrow, with the figure occupying almost the entire surface. Clear, detailed contours without shading or highlights define the line work, as is characteristic of woodcut.
Context
The so-called Wittenberg Reliquaries trace back to a collection assembled by Frederick the Wise in Wittenberg. Lucas Cranach the Elder produced a series of woodcuts for this collection, depicting the individual reliquary containers. The sheets appeared in a booklet that served as a catalog of the relic collection. The silver statuette of Saint John is part of this series, created around 1509.
Impact
The clear line work and reduced monochrome design create a calm, sacred atmosphere. The sheet feels precise and documentary, in keeping with its function as an inventory image of the relics. The tall format and fine details give the figure a solemn presence.
Technique
For this woodcut, the design was cut into a woodblock and then printed on paper. This process allows fine lines and accurate reproduction of details, as seen in the garments and the pedestal. The sheet measures 15.5 × 6.5 cm, a handy format that suggests use in a catalog.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)