Coat-of-arms of Hector Pömer - Sebald Beham

A detailed woodcut by Sebald Beham featuring the coat-of-arms of Hector Pömer, accompanied by Saint Lawrence and humanist inscriptions.

This woodcut by Sebald Beham depicts the heraldic achievement of Hector Pömer, who served as the provost of St. Lawrence in Nuremberg. Beham, a member of the group known as the Little Masters, demonstrates his technical precision in this work. The composition centres on a large, ornate shield displaying the Pömer family arms, flanked by Saint Lawrence. The saint is identifiable by his traditional attribute, the gridiron, which he holds in his right hand, alongside a palm frond representing his martyrdom.

The print exhibits the characteristic clarity of German Renaissance graphic art. Beham employs controlled hatching to define the volume of the saint's robes and the swirling, vegetal mantling that surrounds the shield. The upper section of the print features smaller shields and decorative elements, framed by architectural columns that provide a sense of structure to the scene. The inclusion of text in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin at the base reflects the humanist interests of the period, specifically the phrase 'To the pure, all things are pure'.

As a woodcut, this piece relies on the stark contrast between black ink and the paper surface. Beham manages to convey texture and depth through the density of his lines rather than through tonal shading. The work serves as a record of the social and religious status of Hector Pömer, integrating personal identity with ecclesiastical authority. The precision of the line work is typical of Beham's output, which often focused on small-scale, highly detailed prints intended for collectors and scholars. This print remains a clear example of the intersection between heraldry, religious iconography, and the printmaking traditions of sixteenth-century Nuremberg.