Artwork
The Second Tournament with the Tapestry of Samson and the Lion
The Second Tournament with the Tapestry of Samson and the Lion is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Second Tournament with the Tapestry of Samson and the Lion is a 1509 woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder, combining two contrasting scenes: a dynamic jousting tournament and a serene biblical tapestry depicting Samson slaying a lion.
Subject & Meaning
The woodcut juxtaposes secular nobility (knights in tournament) with religious narrative (Samson and the Lion), reflecting Cranach’s ability to navigate both Catholic and Lutheran themes amidst the Reformation.
Technique & Style
Executed in woodcut, a medium Cranach mastered, the piece showcases his skill in contrasting energetic, detailed figures in the foreground with the more subdued, woven appearance of the tapestry in the background.
History & Provenance
Created during Cranach’s tenure as court artist to the Electors of Saxony, the woodcut’s provenance is not detailed here, though its creation reflects his official role and artistic versatility.
Context
This work embodies the artistic and religious duality of the early 16th-century German Renaissance, where traditional religious subjects coexisted with emerging secular themes of nobility and chivalry.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
