Silver Statuette of St. Philip, from the Wittenberg Reliquaries 1472 - 1553

Lucas Cranach the Elder made this silver statuette of St. Philip, part of the Wittenberg Reliquaries, using ink on paper. Cranach was a court painter in Wittenberg during the Protestant Reformation, a religious and political revolution that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. This print, made in Germany, portrays St. Philip holding a cross-topped staff and a book, standing on what looks like grapes and vine leaves. The grapes and vine leaves allude to the wine and bread of the Eucharist. The statuette was commissioned by Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, who collected religious relics, as well as being a supporter of Martin Luther. Frederick’s collection of relics was housed in the Castle Church of Wittenberg, where Luther famously posted his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517. These images and objects can be understood as historical documents, providing insights into the religious and political conflicts of the time. By studying the provenance of this print, and others like it, we can come to a better understanding of the cultural and intellectual contexts that produced them.