Christopher

As of the High Middle Ages, representations of Christopher (Greek: Χριστόφορος = the bearer of Christ) became popular. Not least his status as one of the 14 helpers in need led to the saint being adopted as the patron of many different guilds and to becoming one of the most loved saints. The Düsseldorf specimen is one of the artist’s highest-quality renditions and the carving work is very impressive, showing how innovations from the Italian Renaissance were adapted and realized north of the Alps. The contraposto with the playfully angled left arm, a close-to-nature physiognomy and a free sculptural treatment are combined here with late medieval carving traditions. The work’s character is strongly influenced and defined by the long parallel folds, typical of the Upper Swabian wood carving workshops of the early 16th century. (Arne Leopold)