The Opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals

c. 1497

Albrecht Dürer

Associated Names
Albrecht Dürer

Artist, German, 1471 - 1528

This is a print depicting two connected scenes. The upper part of the print shows a heavenly assembly surrounded by swirling clouds. The assembly is filled with angels, as well as some men who are kneeling, looking upward at one angel who stands behind a desk or table. This central angel seems to hand the kneeling men long garments, which the other angles help them put on. At the bottom of this scene, shooting stars seem to descend towards the earthly realm below, which is shown at the bottom of the print. This lower scene is chaotic, with the shooting stars landing among a group of cowering people with expressions of distress. In the background, some low mountains are visible. Where the heavenly and earthly scenes meet, there are two large shapes of the sun and moon to the left and right, each with human faces. Their brows are furrowed and their lips are set in frowns.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen

  • Dimensions

    block: 39.2 x 28.3 cm (15 7/16 x 11 1/8 in.)
    sheet: 39.4 x 28.4 cm (15 1/2 x 11 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2005.145.12

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Meder, no. 168

  • Series Title

    The Apocalypse


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Kennedy Galleries, New York); purchased May 1968 by Mrs. Ruth Kainen [1922-2009], Washington, D.C. (Lugt 4740); gift to NGA, 2005.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1932

  • Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog; ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen. Vienna: Verlag Gilhofer und Ranschburg, 1932. Reprint. New York: Da Capo Press, 1971.

2001

  • Schoch, Rainer, Mattihas Mende, and Anna Scherbaum. Albrecht Dürer: Das druckgraphische Werk. Munich, 2001: vol. 2: no. 116.

Inscriptions

lower center in block: AD (in monogram); verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: AR 508; lower center, in graphite by later hand: B 65 M168; bottom right, in graphite by a later hand: 226/[?]

Wikidata ID

Q18338537

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