Philosophy

probably 1502

Albrecht Dürer

Associated Names
Albrecht Dürer

Artist, German, 1471 - 1528

This is a drawing of an allegorical figure seated on a throne among symbolic representations. The imagery includes a central crowned figure holding a staff, surrounded by intricate designs and foliage. There are round medallions depicting ancient scholars or philosophers labeled with names such as "Geramor" and "Gregori" in the design. The corners of the image feature personified wind elements, with labels such as "Eurus" and "Zephir" blowing air towards the center. Throughout the piece, there are several inscriptions in Latin. The overall composition suggests a reverence for ancient wisdom and the merging of different cultural understandings of knowledge.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut on laid paper [trial proof]

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 29.6 × 19.7 cm (11 5/8 × 7 3/4 in.)
    image: 21.9 × 14.8 cm (8 5/8 × 5 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1944.2.94

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Meder, no. 245

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(William Schab, New York); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA (Lugt 1932d), 1943; gift to NGA, 1944.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1955

  • Drawings and Prints by Albrecht Dürer, Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, 1955.

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: no. 245.

2001

  • Schoch, Rainer, Mattihas Mende, and Anna Scherbaum. Albrecht Dürer: Das druckgraphische Werk. Munich, 2001: vol. 3: no. 269.2

Inscriptions

in block, top left: Eurus / Ignis / Coler[i]cus; in block, top center: Sophiam me Greci vocant Latini Sapienciam,; Egipcii & Chaldei me inuenere Greci scripsere / Latini transtulere Germani ampliavere.; in block, top right: Zephirus / Aer / Sanguineus; in block, upper center, in top medallion: EGIPCIORVM SACERDOTES ET CHALDEI / Ptolemy; in block, upper left and right: PHILOSOPHIA; in block, on left arm of throne: [Greek inscription from Pseudo-Phosyides vv. 6]; in block, on right arm of throne: [Greek inscription from Pseudo-Phosyides vv. 7]; in block, in left medallion: SAPIENTES GERMANORVM / Albertus; in block, in right medallion: GRECORVM PHILOSOPHI / Plato; in block, on tablet from breast to feet of Philosophy: Θ / Μ / Ας / Γη / Αρ / Ρετ / Λο / Γρα / Φ; in block, on scroll at foot of tablet: AD [artist's monogram]; in block, in bottom medallion: LATINORVM POETAE ET RHETORES / Cicero / Virgilius; in block, bottom left: Boreas / Terra / Melancolius; in block, bottom center: Quicquid habet Cœlum quid Terra quid Aer & aequor / Quicquid in humanis rebus & esse potest / Et deus in toto quicquid facit igneus orbe / Philosophia meo pectore cuncta gero.; in block, bottom right: Auster / Aqua / Flecmaticus; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: C 23845

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q18339659

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