Artwork
Saint Christopher
Saint Christopher is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1511 and is held in the collection of the British Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Albrecht Dürer's 1511 woodcut Saint Christopher centers on the legendary martyr venerated as the patron saint of travelers, ferrymen, and pilgrims.
Albrecht Dürer's 1511 woodcut Saint Christopher centers on the legendary martyr venerated as the patron saint of travelers, ferrymen, and pilgrims. The composition shows the giant saint wading through a river while carrying the Christ Child on his shoulder, a visual reference to the medieval legend in which Christopher unknowingly bore the weight of the world, symbolized by the infant Jesus. The Christ Child, depicted as a small but luminous figure, alludes to the name "Christopher," meaning "Christ-bearer," and reinforces the saint's role as a protector of those who journey by land or water.
As a religious work rooted in the German Renaissance, the print translates a popular devotional subject into a precise, linear medium, allowing the image to circulate widely among private collectors and institutions. Its enduring appeal lies in the combination of narrative legend, protective symbolism, and the intimate portrayal of the saint's burden, making it a touchstone of early sixteenth-century devotional imagery.
Technique & Style
Albrecht Dürer's Saint Christopher, created in 1511, is a woodcut print executed on paper with ink. Produced in Nuremberg during the German Renaissance, the work measures 21.3 cm in height and 21.4 cm in width. As a woodcut, the image was formed by carving away the non-printing areas of a wooden block, leaving the design in relief to be inked and pressed onto the paper support.
The composition depicts the saint carrying the Christ Child across a river, rendered with the precise line work and tonal control characteristic of Dürer's printmaking technique. The physical format is square, emphasizing the monumental scale of the figures within the limited dimensions of the print.
History & Provenance
The woodcut of Saint Christopher was created by Albrecht Dürer in Nuremberg in 1511, as documented by its inception date and the artist’s authorship. It is part of the collection of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, institutions that hold works from the print’s provenance. The print is cataloged within the holdings of the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art and the Albertina in Vienna, confirming its established ownership history.
Dürer’s authorship and the work’s religious subject matter align with its classification as a German Renaissance religious artwork.
The woodcut is held by the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. It is recorded there with inventory number MB 1113 (AK-M 1960-1).
The print was included in the 1996 exhibition "Dürer in de Nederlanden" at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, where it was shown as no. 26 in the catalogue.
Overview
Saint Christopher is a 1511 religious woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, featuring the titular saint and the Christ Child in a pivotal narrative moment.
Context
Produced during the Northern Renaissance, this piece reflects Dürer's exploration of religious themes through innovative printmaking techniques, contributing to the widespread dissemination of religious imagery.
Legacy
Saint Christopher exemplifies Dürer's influence in perfecting woodcut as an artistic medium, inspiring future generations of printmakers and artists.
Own this work as a print
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)
