Who painted Saint Christopher?

Saint Christopher was painted by German 15th Century in 1475.

Where can I see Saint Christopher?

Saint Christopher is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Christopher?

Saint Christopher is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint Christopher

German 15th Century , 1475

Saint Christopher is a paint print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1475 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a metalcut print that has been hand‑coloured, depicting a robed figure bearing a small child on the shoulder.

About this work

Overview

The work is a metalcut print that has been hand‑coloured, depicting a robed figure bearing a small child on the shoulder. The composition is framed by simple trees and a strip of grass, all rendered with bold black outlines and flat areas of colour. The facial features of the adult are indistinct, giving the scene a stylised, almost schematic quality.

Subject & Meaning

The image illustrates the legend of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, who is traditionally shown carrying the Christ Child across a river. The child’s presence symbolizes divine protection and the saint’s role as a guide for the faithful. By presenting the saint in a straightforward, accessible format, the print conveys a devotional message intended for a broad audience.

Technique & Style

Created by cutting the design into a metal plate, the artist produced a relief image that was inked and pressed onto paper. After printing, the work was coloured by hand, a common practice before the rise of more efficient intaglio and woodcut methods. The use of stark outlines and uniform colour fields reflects the early modern aesthetic of clarity over naturalistic detail.

History & Provenance

Metalcut hand‑coloured prints circulated widely in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods as affordable devotional images. This particular piece exemplifies the medium’s role in disseminating religious iconography before the advent of more advanced printing technologies. Its survival suggests it was valued for both its visual appeal and its function as a portable object of piety.