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Saint Lawrence
Tilman Riemenschneider, 1502–8
This statue and one of Saint Stephen in the same museum are believed to be fragments of a large altarpiece that Riemenschneider carved for the Dominican convent in Rothenburg, in Franconia. The convent was demolished in 1813. Two female saints from the same altarpiece are in Frankfurt.
Both Lawrence and Stephen wear the dalmatic, the garment that marks them as deacons of the early church. Each holds the symbol of his martyrdom. Lawrence holds a grill, since he is said to have been burned to death.
The Cleveland Museum of Art says Riemenschneider was one of the most productive sculptors of the late Gothic style, a master in both stone and wood, with a workshop of as many as 40 apprentices. His figures are known for dreamy, melancholy expressions and for fine detail. The statue is about 94 centimetres high, made of lindenwood with paint and gilding.
From the museum record
| Artist | Tilman Riemenschneider |
|---|---|
| Date | 1502–8 |
| Medium | Lindenwood with polychromy and gilding |
| Size | Overall: 93.8 x 38.5 x 21.8 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund |
| Accession number | 1959.42 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
