Who painted Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher?

Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher was painted by German 15th Century in 1475.

Where can I see Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher?

Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher?

Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher

German 15th Century , 1475

Saint John the Baptist and Saint Christopher is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1475 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This hand‑colored woodcut presents a paired depiction of two Christian figures.

About this work

Overview

This hand‑colored woodcut presents a paired depiction of two Christian figures. Saint John the Baptist appears on the left, clutching a cross, while Saint Christopher occupies the right, bearing the Christ Child on his shoulder. The composition balances the two saints within a single frame, emphasizing their distinct roles in devotional imagery.

Subject & Meaning

The work juxtaposes John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, with Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. By placing the cross‑holding prophet beside the giant carrier of the infant Jesus, the print underscores themes of pilgrimage, protection, and the transmission of divine authority from the Old to the New Testament.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the image was printed in black ink before the artist applied washes of red lake, yellow, green, pink, gray, brown and tan. The bright pigments highlight the saints’ garments and flesh, while subtle gray shading creates a sense of volume. The hand‑coloring adds a vivid, almost painterly quality to the otherwise graphic medium.

History & Provenance

The print is part of a series of colored woodcuts that circulated in early modern Europe, where such works were used for private devotion and illustration. A comparable example is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, indicating the piece’s inclusion in major public collections and its relevance to the study of printed religious art.