Saint Christopher

c. 1509
(German, 1472–1553)
Catalogue raisonné: Hollstein 79
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location: not on view

Download, Print and Share

Description

In Hans Burgkmair's Emperor Maximilian on Horseback, the black outline and white highlights are printed and the paper is washed blue. In Saint Christopher, however, while the black line block is still printed, color is now printed with a tone block and unprinted areas of the white paper act as highlights. Although Saint Christopher is dated 1506, it was probably made after 1508 when Cranach was granted permission by Duke Friedrich to use the coat of arms with a winged serpent seen hanging from the tree. Further, it was only after the artist returned from a trip to the Netherlands in 1508 that he probably would have learned about the use of a tone block by his rival Burgkmair. He then produced two woodcuts using tone blocks—Saint Christopher and Venus and Cupid—predating them to 1506 to claim the invention of chiaroscuro woodcuts for himself.
Saint Christopher

Saint Christopher

c. 1509

Lucas Cranach

(German, 1472–1553)
Germany, 16th century

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.