The Apostle Judas Thaddeus by Hans Baldung Grien

Talk about a bad rep. Poor Judas Thaddeus has had to contend with the shame of being confused with Judas Iscariot, the traitor who sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. But somewhere along the line, he was rebranded as St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes. He’s so popular, he’s even the namesake of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital which is devoted to treating children with cancer and finding a cure. 

In today’s Long Look we’ll find out about the artist who created this print, Hans Baldung Grien and get a crash course on woodblock printing!

SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas https://youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Missa Et ecce terræ motus – I. Kyrie – Christe – Kyrie.” Performed by Steve’s Bedroom Band. Courtesy of musopen.org

Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.676.html

Artist bio https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.323.html

St. Jude information
https://www.stjudeshrine.org/sj/patron-saint-of-the-impossible/

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=127

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Jude-Apostle

How woodcuts are made (video)

Thompson, Wendy. “The Printed Image in the West: Woodcut.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/wdct/hd_wdct.htm (October 2003)

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/