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Saint Maurice

ca. 1520–25
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 607
A commander of the Roman legion, Maurice was martyred near Agaunum (in present‑day Switzerland) in 280 or 300 CE for refusing to slaughter Christians. He was from North Africa, and in the thirteenth century in Germany he began to be portrayed as Black, influenced by the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich II (1194–1250). Friedrich’s vast territories comprised a diverse community of individuals, and his court in Sicily included Black advisors, soldiers, and musicians. However, Cranach’s representation of Maurice is most likely not based on an actual individual but instead on the life‑size reliquary statue of Saint Maurice housed in the Dominican church in Halle.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saint Maurice
  • Artist: Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop (German, Kronach 1472–1553 Weimar)
  • Date: ca. 1520–25
  • Medium: Oil on linden
  • Dimensions: 54 x 15 1/2 in. (137.2 x 39.4 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Eva F. Kollsman, 2005
  • Object Number: 2006.469
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Friedrich III (1463–1525), the Wise, Elector of Saxony, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop German, Oil on beech, with letterpress-printed paper labels
Friedrich III (1463–1525), the Wise, Elector of Saxony
Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop
1533
Johann I (1468–1532), the Constant, Elector of Saxony, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop German, Oil on beech, with letterpress-printed paper labels
Johann I (1468–1532), the Constant, Elector of Saxony
Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop
1532–33
The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara, Lucas Cranach the Elder German, Oil on linden
The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara
Lucas Cranach the Elder
ca. 1510
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, Albrecht Dürer German, Oil on linden
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
Albrecht Dürer
probably 1519
Salvator Mundi, Albrecht Dürer German, Oil on linden
Salvator Mundi
Albrecht Dürer
ca. 1505

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