Artwork
Saints Stephen, Sixtus and Laurence
Saints Stephen, Sixtus and Laurence is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s black‑and‑white print, created circa 1504, presents three saints—Stephen, Sixtus, and Laurence—standing together in a solemn arrangement.
Albrecht Dürer’s black‑and‑white print, created circa 1504, presents three saints—Stephen, Sixtus, and Laurence—standing together in a solemn arrangement. The central figure bears a crown and a staff topped with a cross, while the flanking saints hold a palm branch and a book respectively. An arched backdrop frames the group, and small symbolic objects such as a hammer and a wheel lie at their feet, all rendered in crisp, linear detail.
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the martyrdom and virtues of the three saints. Stephen, traditionally shown with a palm, signifies victory over death; Laurence’s book alludes to his role as a deacon; Sixtus’s crown and cross‑topped staff convey ecclesiastical authority. The scattered tools reference the specific sufferings each saint endured, reinforcing their status as intercessors for the faithful.
Technique & Style
Executed in a printmaking technique that combines the precision of engraving with the textural vigor of woodcut, the work displays Dürer’s characteristic fine line work and careful modelling of fabric and facial features. The stark monochrome palette heightens the contrast between illuminated figures and the recessed architectural arch, while the intricate detailing of objects at the saints’ feet showcases Dürer’s skill in rendering material surfaces.
History & Provenance
Dürer, a central figure of the German Renaissance, produced this print during a period when he was absorbing Italian artistic influences, particularly in composition and perspective. The piece entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection in the twentieth century, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of Northern European prints, illustrating Dürer’s early mastery of print media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
