Saint Christopher
1435
Legend has it that Christopher wanted to serve the world's strongest king, only to discover that Christ was the true power. In this striking 1435 panel by Konrad Witz, we see the giant saint wading through a dark, rippling river, his bright red cloak billowing as he carries the Christ child on his shoulders. The child looks surprisingly heavy, representing the weight of the world, while a hermit with a lantern watches from the shore to guide him. Witz was a pioneer of realistic landscapes, and the background isn't just a fantasy—it likely depicts the actual Rhine river or Lake Geneva, making this one of the first paintings to feature a recognizable, real-world location!
Location: Kunstmuseum Basel
Views: 1