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

Editor: Here we have Lucas Cranach the Elder's "Silver Statuette of St. Matthew, from the Wittenberg Reliquaries," dating from 1472 to 1553. It's currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There is so much sharp detail in this print; the lines create such depth, even though it is only black and white! What grabs your attention about it? Curator: Well, isn’t it something? To me, this St. Matthew seems both powerful and vulnerable. See how Cranach uses the woodcut medium? The harsh lines, especially in the drapery, lend a sense of gravitas and perhaps even the weight of responsibility on St. Matthew's shoulders. Editor: Absolutely! It makes him feel very present. But why the axe? Curator: Aha! That's his attribute, signifying his martyrdom, you see. And look at the positioning of the figure—confident yet grounded. The gaze, though stylized, meets ours with an unsettling calmness, wouldn't you agree? It's as if he knows his fate. It really puts the “Memento Mori” idea in the center, you know, that reflection upon mortality... I find it quite touching! Don't you think there’s something very human, maybe fragile, beneath the saintliness? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't fully considered before. It makes it more than just a religious symbol, adding layers of meaning. The attention to detail and his grounded stature really emphasizes his humanity in this representation. Curator: Precisely. It becomes an image of resilience, wouldn't you say, rendered so beautifully! The more you sit with it, the more you learn about mortality, and also about Cranach! Editor: Definitely! I will certainly be giving Cranach more attention! Thank you!