St. John the Baptist

c. 1475

Martin Schongauer

(German, c. 1450–1491)

Culture

Germany

Medium

engraving

Credit Line

Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1924.510

Catalogue raisonné

Lehrs V.261.59

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

In his gospel, Saint John identifies Christ as the "Lamb of God," and so the saint is often portrayed holding a lamb with a cruciform staff, symbolizing Christ victorious over death.

Description

Martin Schongauer was among the first artists to work extensively in engraving to create series such as the one depicting the saints. Here, he represented Saint John the Baptist as a thin ascetic man holding a book at the top of which is the Lamb of God. Schongauer's engraved lines inventively emulate different natural qualities and textures, for example the camel fur of John's robe and the spiraling locks of his hair.