Artwork
Saint Christopher
Saint Christopher is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1513 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Saint Christopher is a 1513 woodcut on laid paper by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance artist from Regensburg, Germany. The print exemplifies the Danube School's style, blending religious themes with expressive landscapes.
Subject & Meaning
The woodcut depicts Saint Christopher carrying a child across a river, symbolizing his legendary journey. The dynamic composition conveys the challenges of the saint's task, while the child's downward gaze at the saint's head adds an intimate detail.
Technique & Style
Executed in woodcut, the piece showcases Altdorfer's skill in the medium. The bold, expressive lines and the inclusion of a background tree with stretching branches demonstrate his ability to create depth and energy in a print.
History & Provenance
Created in 1513, Saint Christopher reflects Altdorfer's early emphasis on landscape elements within religious subjects. Although specific provenance details are not provided, the work is characteristic of Altdorfer's output during his active period in Regensburg.
Context
As a member of the Danube School and associated with the Nuremberg Little Masters, Altdorfer's work, including Saint Christopher, contributed to the Renaissance's evolving approach to landscape and religious art in early 16th-century Germany.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
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