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

Lucas Cranach the Elder created this woodcut, A Golden Reliquary with the Tree of Jesse, as part of the Large Series of Wittenberg Reliquaries. Cranach was working during the Reformation, a period defined by religious and political upheaval. The print visualizes the genealogy of Christ through the “Tree of Jesse” motif, which traces Jesus’ lineage back to Jesse, the father of King David. This imagery was used during the Reformation to assert the importance of the human bloodline of Christ, countering prevailing spiritual interpretations. It’s hard to ignore the ways in which the image intertwines religious narrative with assertions of power and identity. Cranach, closely linked to Martin Luther, used his art to support the reformer's cause. The imagery also reinforces gendered and racialized norms, presenting a Christian lineage that excludes other narratives. The print resonates with emotional intensity, inviting us to reflect on the complex relationships between faith, identity, and authority during the Reformation.