Silver Statuette of St. Simon, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries" (Woodcut, Met-Objekt 2467)
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. Simon, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Cranach the Elder presents Saint Simon in this woodcut as part of the Wittenberg Relics. The sheet belongs to a series documenting the relic collection of Frederick the Wise and was made around 1510. It measures 13.2 × 6.5 cm and is a single print from this set.
Description
Saint Simon stands centrally on a pedestal bordered by wave-like forms. He wears a long-sleeved robe, a long beard, and a radiant crown. His right hand holds a staff or tool, while his left rests on his chest. The layout is symmetrical, the linework detailed, and the areas remain monochrome.
Context
The Wittenberg Relics were a significant collection of saints' relics kept by Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony in the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Around 1510, Lucas Cranach the Elder created a woodcut series depicting these relics as statuettes. It was part of the indulgence and pilgrimage system promoted by Frederick and served as visual documentation and promotional material for the collection.
Impact
The figure appears calm and dignified through the symmetrical arrangement and clear linework. The radiant crown and wave-like pedestal give it a sacred, elevated aura. Precision and the fine modeling of the garments characterize the woodcut.
Technique
For this woodcut, the design was cut into a woodblock and then printed on paper. The lines are fine and contoured, as is typical of Renaissance woodcut technique. The paper is thin, the ink black, resulting in a monochrome image.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)