German, 'Saint Christopher carrying the Infant Christ', 17th century
About the work
Overview
This small picture is painted on a copper plate. This was particularly popular as a support with the German artist Adam Elsheimer, whose love of dynamic draperies and bright colours clearly had an impact on the painter of this work.
The infant Christ is lowered gently to rest against a regal orb by Saint Christopher. According to legend, Christopher was a giant who wanted to become a Christian but found himself unable to pray or fast. A hermit (possibly the figure to the left here) told him to use his height to help travellers cross a deep river; a group of them wait on the opposite bank. One day he carried a small but improbably heavy child across the river. It was Christ, who told Christopher that by carrying him he had also been carrying the ‘weight of the world’. He then told him to go and be baptised ‘Christopher’, meaning ‘bearer of Christ’.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Saint Christopher carrying the Infant Christ
- Artist
- German
- Date made
- 17th century
- Medium and support
- oil on copper
- Dimensions
- 9.8 × 13.6 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1854
- Inventory number
- NG2156
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Susan Foister, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The German Paintings before 1800’, London 2024; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1959Levey, Michael, National Gallery Catalogues: The German Schools, London 1959
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
-
2024S. Foister, National Gallery Catalogues: The German Paintings before 1800, 2 vols, London 2024
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.