Who painted Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul?

Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul was painted by After Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Where can I see Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul?

Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul?

Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul

After Lucas Cranach the Elder

Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul is a print by the Renaissance artist After Lucas Cranach the Elder. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 2017.277.12
Credit line: Anonymous Gift in honor of Jane Glaubinger

About this work

Overview

The work, titled "Simon from Christ, the Apostles, and Saint Paul," is a print executed after a design by Lucas Cranach the Elder in 1564. It is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of mid‑sixteenth‑century religious imagery.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a solitary, bearded figure with striking orange hair, seated on a rock and supporting his head with one hand. His posture and expression convey fatigue or melancholy, suggesting a moment of contemplation or sorrow within a biblical narrative, likely referencing the apostle Simon Peter.

Technique & Style

Rendered in bold, saturated hues, the print emphasizes the figure’s orange hair and red garment against a dark purple background. A greenish drapery falls over his shoulders, adding contrast. The strong coloration and clear outlines are characteristic of Northern Renaissance printmaking, where line work and tonal contrast were used to highlight emotional content.

History & Provenance

Created as a posthumous copy after Cranach’s original composition, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century. Its provenance traces back to German workshops that continued Cranach’s workshop traditions after his death.

Context

The piece belongs to a broader series of devotional images that circulated in the German lands during the Reformation, intended for private contemplation. Its German caption, written in early modern script, functions as a brief sermon or narrative accompanying the visual scene.