The Holy Trinity, from Via Felicitatis
Medium
Woodcut
Dimensions
Sheet: 3 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (9.5 × 6.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Harry G. Friedman, 1965
Accession Number
66.521.58
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 16th century, artist Hans Schäufelein a follower of Albrecht Dürer, created *The Holy Trinity* as part of his *Via Felicitatis*—a devotional pathway to spiritual bliss printed around 1513. Collaborating with printer Johann Miller,ufelein produced this intricate woodcut, measuring just 3 3/4 × 2 1/2 inches, ideal for personal prayer books or altarpieces during the Northern Renaissance. The image centers on the Christian doctrine of the Trinity: God the Father, Christ on the Cross, and the Holy Spirit as a dove, surrounded by male figures in a compact, symbolic composition. Woodcut...
About the Artist
Hans Schäufelein|Johann Miller · 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...