1478
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
St. Christopher is a 1478 by Martin Schongauer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
A giant wades through a river, a child on his shoulders and a lantern in his hand. The water swirls around his knees, and the trees on the bank are full of tiny leaves. This is Saint Christopher carrying the Christ child across a dangerous river. The story was a favorite in the Middle Ages—people carried small versions of this image for protection on trips. Schongauer’s lines are so fine you can barely see them, like ink on paper. Look up *chiaroscuro* to see how light and shadow make this scene feel deep.
One of the most popular saints in the Late Middle Ages, Saint Christopher—whose name means "Christ-bearer"—was the patron saint of travelers and pilgrims. A legendary giant, Christopher wished to serve the most powerful king in the world. A hermit advised him to devote his life to Christ and to carry pilgrims and travelers on his back across a dangerous river, guided by the light of the hermit's lantern. Here, Schongauer depicts the story, focusing on the moment before the saint reaches the shore with the child on his back. According to legend, when the saint finally reached the far shore, he…
Prints depicting St. Christopher were believed to protect from the mala mors (dying suddenly without receiving the last rites), which was of particular concern to pilgrims and travelers.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Martin Schongauer, also known as Martin Schön or Hübsch Martin by his contemporaries, was an Alsatian engraver and painter.
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