Saint Anthony Abbot c. 16th century

Editor: This is Lucas Cranach the Elder's Saint Anthony Abbot, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m really struck by the gridded surface, it almost looks like a preliminary sketch. What can you tell me about the formal elements at play here? Curator: Note how Cranach uses line to define form, creating a tapestry of textures. The saint’s beard is a frenzy of curls, juxtaposed against the smooth planes of his face and cowl. The grid, of course, is quite interesting. Do you think it enhances or detracts from the overall composition? Editor: I hadn't considered that juxtaposition before, thanks! The grid makes me think of a stained-glass window. It makes the artwork feel more modern, somehow. Curator: Indeed, it creates a fascinating tension. It offers a structural framework, segmenting the pictorial space, while also flattening the image. We see both depth and surface simultaneously. Editor: That’s a really interesting point. I’ll definitely be thinking about that interplay between depth and surface when I look at other works.