The Sudarium of Saint Veronica
The Sudarium of Saint Veronica

Currently not on view

The Sudarium of Saint Veronica,

1510, published 1510–12

Albrecht Dürer, 1471–1528; born and died Nuremberg, Germany; active Venice, Italy, and Nuremburg
x1958-25
Martin Schongauer’s innovations in depicting light, shade, texture, and volume in his engravings greatly influenced the young Albrecht Dürer’s graphic work. Considered to be Schongauer’s masterpiece, this narrative scene of the Road to Calvary shows Christ’s face in the form in which it was transferred miraculously to the veil offered to him by Saint Veronica in a subsequent Passion scene. This type of icon, based on the veil (now a relic in Saint Peter’s in Rome) is called a sudarium and can be seen in Dürer’s woodcut below. The dramatic tension in Schongauer’s composition derives from the contrast between Christ’s calm, direct gaze, and the averted eyes of his agitated tormenters.

Information

Title
The Sudarium of Saint Veronica
Dates

1510, published 1510–12

Maker
Albrecht Dürer
Medium
Woodcut
Dimensions
block: 12.7 × 9.8 cm (5 × 3 7/8 in.) sheet: 13.2 × 10.2 cm (5 3/16 × 4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of John P. Poe, Class of 1922, in memory of Albert M. Friend, Jr., Class of 1915
Object Number
x1958-25
Place Made

Europe, Germany, Nuremburg

Inscription
Number and monogram in block, upper and lower centers: 1510 / AD
Marks/Labels/Seals
Watermark: [high crown]
Reference Numbers
Bartsch 38; Dodgson 82; Hollstein 147; Meder 147; Schoch 208
Culture
German, European
Type
prints, woodcuts
Materials
printing ink
Techniques
woodcut (process)
Subject
men, passion, women, Christ, faces, figures (representations), saints, rooms, cloth

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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

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