The Discovery of the Cross - Nicolas Le Sueur

A chiaroscuro woodcut by Nicolas Le Sueur, depicting the excavation of the Cross after a drawing by Bernardino Pinturicchio.

This chiaroscuro woodcut by Nicolas Le Sueur depicts the narrative of the Invention of the Cross. The composition shows three figures engaged in the excavation of a wooden beam from the earth, surrounded by scattered skulls and remnants of the site. The print was executed after a drawing by the Italian Renaissance master Bernardino Pinturicchio, which was held in the collection of Pierre Crozat. Le Sueur was a member of a prominent family of engravers in Paris and became known for his technical skill in reproducing drawings through the medium of woodcut.

The print employs a monochromatic palette, typical of the chiaroscuro technique, which uses layered blocks to create tonal depth rather than relying solely on line work. The figures are rendered with a focus on anatomical form and period-appropriate attire, reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities of the eighteenth-century French printmaking tradition. The scene is set against a backdrop of wooden stakes and uneven terrain, suggesting the archaeological nature of the event. The inclusion of the shovel in the foreground provides a sense of scale and context to the labour being performed by the figures.

Le Sueur's work was part of a larger project to document the drawings in the Crozat collection, a significant undertaking that allowed contemporary audiences to view works by earlier masters. The print demonstrates the precision required to translate the fluid lines of a preparatory drawing into the rigid medium of woodblock carving. The tonal variations in the green ink provide a sense of volume to the figures and the surrounding earth, creating a cohesive visual narrative. This piece offers an insight into the methods of reproduction used during the Enlightenment, where the dissemination of art history was achieved through the careful translation of master drawings into print form.