Christ Healing the Possessed, from Das Plenarium

Art Historical Context

In the bustling world of early 16th-century German printing, Hans Schäufelein a skilled woodcutter from the Nuremberg school and associate of Albrecht Dürer, created vivid illustration for *Das Plenarium*, a popular plenary prayer book published by Adam Petri in Basel in 1517. Titled *Christ Healing the Possessed*, depicts a dramatic biblical miracle from the Gospels, where Jesus out demons from tormented figures amid a crowd of onlookers. This tiny woodcut (just 3 11/16 × 2 11/16 inches) captures the Northern Renaissance's blend of spiritual fervor and intricate detail, reflecting the era's growing demand for affordable devotional books during the eve of the Protestant Reformation. Hand-colored after printing, the woodcut's delicate hues of red, blue, and gold bring the scene to life, heightening its emotional impact for personal prayer. Woodcuts like this were revolutionary, enabling mass production of illustrated texts that made sacred stories accessible to laypeople beyond church walls. Schäufele's precise line work—crowded figures, expressive gestures, and architectural backdrops—showcases the technical prowess of German printmaking, rivaling larger paintings in narrative power. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a gift from Harry G. Friedman, this print offers a window into how art democratized faith, turning intimate books into treasured heirlooms for Renaissance households.

About the Artist

Hans Schäufelein|Adam Petri · 1480–1540

Hans Schäufelein (c. 1480–c. 1540) was a German painter and graphic artist of the Northern Renaissance whose career placed him at the heart of one of the most dynamic artistic environments in European history. As a young man, he entered the workshop of Albrecht Dürer in Nuremberg, an experience that proved decisive: Dürer's meticulous approach to draughtsmanship, his mastery of printmaking, and hi...