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 captures the silver figure of Saint Peter from the 'Wittenberg Relics' in this print. The undated woodcut measures 13.4 × 6 cm and belongs to a series documenting the relic collection of Frederick the Wise.
Description
Peter appears with an open book in his hands, his gaze directed at it. 'SANCTUS PETRUS' is inscribed on his headpiece; his robe falls in long sleeves. A beard and short hair characterize his face. An empty ground surrounds the figure, entirely without accessories, and the monochrome layout relies on the strong light-dark contrast typical of woodcuts.
Context
The series depicts relics and their containers from the Wittenberg Castle Church and appeared in the early 16th century to publicize Frederick the Wise's extensive collection. Cranach was then working as court painter in Wittenberg and produced numerous woodcuts for this purpose.
Impact
Clear lines and the restrained ground focus the eye on the saint. The interplay of light and shadow gives the statuette a physical presence reminiscent of the silver original.
Technique
As a relief print, a woodcut is made by cutting the design in relief into the woodblock and then pulling a print. Hatching and thin lines, inherent to the technique, create texture and shading.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)