St. Andrew from Christ and the Apostles

Art Historical Context

This woodcut, created in 1519 by Hans Baldung Grien, depicts Saint Andrew as part of a larger series titled *Christ and the Apostles*. Measuring just over eight inches tall, the print captures the saint with the expressive line work and bold contrasts typical of 16th-century German printmaking. Baldung, active during the Northern Renaissance, used the woodcut medium to make religious imagery widely accessible through reproducible prints. The subject of Saint Andrew reflects the era’s deep interest in the lives of the apostles, figures central to Christian devotion and teaching. Woodcuts like this one allowed artists to combine intricate detail with efficient production, helping spread both artistic styles and religious narratives across Europe at a time when printed images were becoming increasingly important. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this sheet was gifted by Harry G. Friedman in 1962. It offers visitors a glimpse into how Renaissance artists balanced devotional purpose with technical innovation in the service of faith and storytelling.

About the Artist

Hans Baldung (called Hans Baldung Grien) · 1484–1545

Hans Baldung Grien (1484/85–1545), born in Schwäbisch Gmünd into an erudite family of jurists and physicians, forsook academia to pursue art. His early training around 1500 took place in the Upper Rhineland, likely Strasbourg, before he apprenticed under Albrecht Dürer in Nuremberg from 1503 to 1507. There, the young artist honed his skills in painting, printmaking, and stained glass, even managin...