Silver Statuette of St. Philip, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries" (Woodcut, Met-Objekt 2475)
Original title: Silver Statuette of St. Philip, from the "Wittenberg Reliquaries"
kurzbeschreibung
A silver statuette of Saint Philip from the Wittenberg relic collection was recorded in a woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder. The undated sheet measures 13.4 × 6.7 cm and belongs to a series documenting the relics of Frederick the Wise.
Description
A book in his left hand, a staff in his right: Saint Philip stands facing the viewer head-on. A halo of rays rests above his head covering, marking his holiness. To the left, a small figure with a scroll rises on a pedestal. Flowers and leaves are suggested on the ground, while the background stays restrained.
Context
Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony assembled a substantial collection of saintly relics in Wittenberg. For the Heiltumsbuch published in 1509, which catalogued these relics, Lucas Cranach the Elder made the woodcuts. The series ran to more than 100 sheets and served both devotion and documentation.
Impact
Calm and dignified, the print works through clear contrasts and precise lines. The symmetrical arrangement and the rayed halo underline the sacred weight of the figure.
Technique
For a woodcut, the design is cut into a block of wood and then printed onto paper. The monochrome execution and even lighting are characteristic of the process.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)