Maximilian Presented by his Patron Saints to the Almighty

Primarily a designer of woodcuts in Dürer’s workshop, Springinklee worked throughout his career on imperial projects for the Habsburg emperor Maximilian I. The program for this monumental woodcut was formulated by the court historian and astronomer Johannes Stabius shortly after Maximilian’s death in 1519. Stabius’s coat of arms can be seen at the foot of the entryway at the lower left; the imperial arms hover at the upper right. Springinklee represents Maximilian in heaven being introduced by his patron saints to God the Father. Maximilian is dressed sumptuously, his imperial regalia on a pillow at his knees. Surrounding him are the Virgin and Christ Child—his primary intercessors—and saints George, Andrew, Maximilian, Sebastian, Barbara, and Leopold. Maximilian’s sponsors are mainly military in nature; George and Andrew are patrons of chivalric orders, and Sebastian and Barbara are the patrons of archers and artillery soldiers, respectively. The banderole above the saints’ heads reads, "Lord save the King and listen to us this day in which we invoke you." God stands within a triumphal archway and blesses the emperor, his own banderole announcing, "I came before him with sweet blessings, and on his head I placed a crown of precious stones."