Saint Christopher Facing Right

Saint Christopher Facing Right is a monumental engraving by the celebrated German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer, executed in 1521. This highly detailed print exemplifies Dürer’s complete command over the burin, employing precise, dense networks of lines to achieve deep textural effects and tonal variation on the copper plate. Produced late in his prolific career, this work showcases the technical refinement and psychological depth for which Dürer is historically recognized.

The subject illustrates the well-known legend of Saint Christopher, the Christ-bearer and patron saint of travelers, navigating a treacherous river while carrying the disguised Christ Child on his shoulders. The composition is focused entirely on the struggle of the giant figure, who leans heavily on his staff and faces determinedly to the right as he endures the overwhelming weight. Dürer contrasts the physical exertion of the saint with the serene divinity of the small Child perched atop his neck, holding a globe. The rich background details, typical of Dürer’s Northern Renaissance sensibility, include meticulously rendered trees and distant, subtle architectural elements barely visible through the swirling river mists.

As a highly sought-after religious image, Saint Christopher Facing Right circulated widely, cementing Dürer’s status as Europe’s premier printmaker. The mastery demonstrated in this engraving made prints such as this crucial components of both private devotion and artistic study throughout the 16th century. Today, this important impression of the engraving is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a vital piece of the artist's legacy. Due to the historical nature of the artwork, high-resolution files of this famous engraving are frequently available through public domain sources.