St. Christopher
1513
Albrecht Altdorfer captures the sheer exhaustion of St. Christopher in this 1513 print, showing the giant saint wading through a river while carrying the Christ child on his shoulders. Legend says the child grew heavier with the weight of the world, and you can definitely see the strain in the saint's hunched back as he leans on a massive staff. As a leader of the Danube School, Altdorfer fills the scene with a wild, detailed forest and a tiny distant town, proving that nature was just as important to him as religious subjects. Keep an eye out for his signature 'A' monogram carved into the tree trunk on the right!
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