Silver Statuette of St. Andrew, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. Andrew, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
kurzbeschreibung
A silver reliquary figure from the Wittenberg Heiligtümer is shown here: Saint Andrew, holding a cross and a book, standing on a dragon. Lucas Cranach the Elder recorded this figure in a woodcut in the early sixteenth century as part of a series documenting the relic collection of Frederick the Wise.
Description
The saint faces forward, motionless, a cross in his right hand and a book in his left. Over a long-sleeved robe with a hood he wears a further mantle. Beneath his feet crouches a dragon, sign of victory over evil. A plain dark ground makes the figure stand out clearly; black and white alternate in even brightness, with hardly any shadow indicated.
Context
The Wittenberg Heiligtümer, a relic collection assembled by Elector Frederick the Wise in the early sixteenth century, form the background of this print. For the Heiligtumsaltar and the accompanying publications, Cranach produced a series of woodcuts reproducing the individual reliquary vessels. The silver statuette of Saint Andrew was among the precious pieces of the collection, which was shown publicly every year on All Saints' Day.
Impact
Clear lines and the saint's upright, monumental posture give the sheet a solemn, dignified tone. Because everything is restricted to black and white and the ground is kept dark, the view feels concentrated, almost meditative. The dragon under the saint's feet reinforces the triumphant symbolism and brings tension to the layout.
Technique
Relief printing: the motif is cut into a woodblock and transferred to paper with printing ink. The precise lines and fine internal drawing show how confidently Cranach commanded this medium. That the sheet knows only black and white corresponds to early woodcut and works above all through contrasts and line.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)