Silver Statuette of St. Jude, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries" (Woodcut, Met-Objekt 2470)
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. Jude, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Cranach the Elder recorded the silver figure of Saint Jude Thaddeus, also known as St Jude, in this woodcut. The sheet belongs to the series of 'Wittenberg Relics' and bears no date. It measures 12.9 × 5.3 cm.
Description
Jude Thaddeus stands upright on a pedestal with an ornate base. Over a long, folding robe he wears a short beard, and a halo behind his head marks his sanctity. His right hand closes around a book or scroll; his left rests on his chest. Worked in black on white, the print uses thin, cleanly placed strokes that bring out the drapery and the features of the face. The ground is left empty, with nothing to draw the eye from the saint.
Context
Cranach worked in Wittenberg during the Reformation. The 'Wittenberg Relics' refers to the famous collection of Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony. To make these pieces visible to a wider public, Cranach produced a series of woodcuts reproducing the relics. Jude Thaddeus was a popular patron saint, which explains his place in the collection.
Impact
The sheet feels calm and devotional, thanks to its clear arrangement and thin linework. Small as the format is, the figure appears dignified and almost monumental, which supports the veneration of the saint. The silver surface is rendered with precision, lending the print a touch of preciousness.
Technique
Woodcut is a relief process: the design is cut away from a woodblock and then printed. Cranach used fine parallel lines and cross-hatching to create shadow and volume. Having only black and white at his disposal is part of the technique and allows a clear, high-contrast rendering.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)