Silver Statuette of St. John the Baptist, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. John the Baptist, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
kurzbeschreibung
This woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder dates from the early sixteenth century and reproduces a silver statuette of John the Baptist. The subject comes from the Wittenberg Relics. Measuring 13.2 × 6.2 cm, the sheet belongs to a printed series that recorded the relic collection of Frederick the Wise.
Description
The Baptist stands squarely facing us, his hair short and curly, with a beard. A cloak is draped over a long-sleeved garment; his right hand grips a vessel, probably a chalice, while the left holds something resembling a skull or an animal's head. On a pedestal below the statuette lies a stylized lamb. The ground behind is left empty, and everything is printed in a single tone.
Context
The sheet was probably made around 1509–1510, though it cannot be dated precisely. Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony kept a considerable collection of saints' relics in the castle church at Wittenberg, known as the Wittenberg Relics. As court painter, Cranach recorded these reliquaries in a series of woodcuts, published as an illustrated inventory in a printed catalogue.
Impact
Cleanly drawn lines and a spare layout give the view a quiet, devotional air. Though it is a print, the silver statuette gains body through delicate hatching. The saint's grave expression adds to the religious dignity of the subject.
Technique
For printing, the design was cut into a woodblock and pulled from it onto paper. The lines look precise and fine, as is typical of Cranach's prints. With no colour, the contours and inner drawing of the figure stand out clearly.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)