Silver Statuette of St. Philip, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries" (Woodcut, Met-Objekt 2473)
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. Philip, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
kurzbeschreibung
The silver statuette of Saint Philip, once part of the Wittenberg relic collection, was recorded by Lucas Cranach the Elder in this woodcut. The undated sheet measures 13.2 × 6.7 cm and belongs to a series of prints that documented the relics of Frederick the Wise.
Description
Saint Philip stands upright in the center, holding a book in his right hand and a staff in his left. He wears a head covering, and above it a halo of rays marks his sanctity. To his left stands a smaller figure, also with a book. Both rest on a base decorated with flowers and fruit. The arrangement has a symmetrical, mirror-like order; the sheet is monochrome, and the light falls evenly without shadow.
Context
In the Castle Church at Wittenberg, Elector Frederick the Wise kept a substantial collection of saintly relics, known as the Wittenberg relics. Around 1509 Cranach produced a series of woodcuts depicting individual reliquaries and statuettes. These prints served as an inventory and were also sold as single sheets. The present sheet lacks a secure date but fits within this context.
Impact
Clear, taut lines and the symmetrical order give the print a calm, ceremonial character. The halo and the design of the base emphasize the saint's worthiness of veneration. Although executed in a single color, the precision of detail conveys the impression of precious metalwork.
Technique
For this woodcut, the design was cut into a woodblock and then printed on paper. Precisely guided lines and the accurate rendering of the figures characterize Cranach's printmaking. At 13.2 × 6.7 cm, the format remains small and handy, as befitted a devotional image or a catalogue sheet.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)