The Risen Christ, from Old and New Testaments

Art Historical Context

In the mid-16th century, artist Augustin Hirschvogel profound religious themes in his intricate etching *The Risen Christ, Old and New Testaments (1550). Working in Nuremberg during the Renaissance and amid the Protestant Reformation, Hirschvogel—a versatile printmaker, cartographer, and glass painterfluenced by Albrecht Dürer, created this work as part of a seriesosing Old Testament prophecies with their New Testament fulfillments. The image depicts the triumphant Risen Christ, symbolizing and salvation, a vital motif in Christian devotion during a time of theological upheaval. Etching, Hirschvogel's specialty, allowed for delicate, fluid lines etched into a metal plate with acid, producing rich tonal effects unachievable in earlier woodcuts. At just 4 5/8 × 6 1/16 inches, this intimate print showcases his mastery of fine detail—drapery folds, expressive faces, and atmospheric depth—making it accessible for personal prayer books or collections. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, it exemplifies Northern Renaissance printmaking's role in disseminating faith visually to a broadening audience. Visitors will appreciate how Hirschvogel's precise technique bridges medieval typology with emerging humanism, inviting reflection on enduring spiritual narratives.

About the Artist

Augustin Hirschvogel · 1503–1553

Augustin Hirschvogel (1503–1553) was born in Nuremberg into a prominent family of stained-glass painters who dominated the city's glass workshops during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The son of Veit Hirschvogel the Elder (1461–1525), Nuremberg's official glazier who executed designs after Albrecht Dürer and Hans von Kulmbach, Augustin trained as a glass painter in his father's workshop. ...