Artwork
Saint Christopher Facing Left
Saint Christopher Facing Left is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1521 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s engraving titled Saint Christopher Facing Left dates from 1521 and is executed on laid paper. The work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It presents a single, densely rendered figure within a compact, monochrome composition, characteristic of Dürer’s mature printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts the legendary saint who, according to Christian tradition, ferried travelers across a river while bearing the Christ Child on his shoulder. Here the giant figure turns his back to the viewer, his massive head and tangled hair emphasizing his strength, while the child clutches a staff and looks forward, underscoring the saint’s protective role.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed the engraving technique, incising fine lines into a copper plate and printing them onto laid paper. He built tonal variation through dense cross‑hatching, using closely spaced parallel lines that intersect to suggest shadow and volume. This method creates a textured, almost sculptural surface that enhances the dramatic contrast between the figures and the dark sky.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the early sixteenth century, the print has passed through several private collections before entering the National Gallery of Art. The museum acquired it as part of its broader effort to assemble a representative body of Dürer’s graphic work, ensuring its preservation and public accessibility.
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)
