Saint Christopher
c. 1515/1520
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to plate mark): 6.5 x 5.9 cm (2 9/16 x 2 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1983.10.1
Art Historical Context
Albrecht Altdorfer's *Saint Christopher*, created around 1515–1520, is a example of Northern Renaissance printmaking. This small engraving on laid paper, measuring just 6.5 x 5.9 cm, captures the legendary giant saint wading through turbulent waters while carrying the Christ Child on his shoulder—a classic iconographic motif symbolizing protection for travelers. Altdorfer, a artist of the Danube School based in Regensburg, Germany, masterfully blends intricate details with dramatic landscape elements, a hallmark of his innovative style that elevated prints from mere reproductions to standalone...
About the Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer · 1475–1538
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480–1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and draftsman who stands as one of the founders of landscape painting as an independent genre. Born in Regensburg or nearby Altdorf, he learned art from his father Ulrich, a painter and miniaturist. Altdorfer spent most of his life in Regensburg, becoming a citizen in 1505 and later serving as the city's official architect and a m...