A Golden Reliquary with the Tree of Jesse, from the Large Series of Wittenberg Reliquaries by Lucas Cranach the Elder

A Golden Reliquary with the Tree of Jesse, from the Large Series of Wittenberg Reliquaries 1509

drawing, print

tree

drawing

ink drawing

pen drawing

mechanical pen drawing

print

pen illustration

pen sketch

madonna

personal sketchbook

child

pen-ink sketch

pen work

sketchbook drawing

sketchbook art

angel

Lucas Cranach the Elder's "A Golden Reliquary with the Tree of Jesse" (1509) is a woodcut depicting a stylized tree representing the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The Tree of Jesse, a popular motif in medieval and Renaissance art, shows the lineage of Jesus from the Old Testament patriarch Jesse, with figures representing his ancestors branching out from the trunk. The artwork, part of the Large Series of Wittenberg Reliquaries, showcases Cranach's mastery of woodcut techniques. The intricate detail, particularly in the tree's foliage, adds to the artwork's visual impact and complexity.