Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony

1524

Albrecht Dürer

Associated Names
Albrecht Dürer
Artist, German, 1471 - 1528
The artwork is a detailed engraving depicting a half-length portrait of Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony. He is shown facing slightly to the right. His facial features include a full beard and mustache. His hair is mostly hidden under a large, elaborate hat. He is dressed in a fur-collared garment. To the left of his head is a small coat of arms with crossed swords. The background is a simple, textured shading. Below the portrait, there is an inscription in Latin.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to plate mark): 19.2 x 12.7 cm (7 9/16 x 5 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.3551

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Meder, no. 102

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Lugt 103) [Alexander Danz, Liepzig?]; purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA (Lugt 1760b and Lugt 1932d), 1928; gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1929

  • Engravings by Albrecht Durer from the collection of Lessing J. Rosenwald of Philadelphia, Baltimore Museum of Art, 1929, no. 47.

1956

  • Life and Lives in the Renaissance, Norton Gallery and School of Art, West Palm Beach, FL; and Columbia Museum of Art, SC, 1956, no. 33.

2000

  • The Power of Appearances: Renaissance and Reformation Portrait Prints and Medals, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Poughkeepsie; Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, 2000-2001.

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. 1: no. 98.

Inscriptions

in plate, center right: AD [artist's monogram]; in plate, bottom, Latin inscription: CHRISTO. SACRVM. / ILLE. CEI VERBO. MAGNA PIETATE. FAVEBAT. / PERPETVA. DIGNVS. POSTERITATE. COLI. / D[OMINO]. FRID[E]R[ICO]. DVCI. SAXON[IAE]. S[ACRI]. R[OMANI]. IMP[ERII]. / ARCHIM[ARESCHALLO]. ELECTORI. / ALBERTVS DVRER. NVR[EMBERGENSIS]. FACIEBAT. / B[ENE]. M[ERENTI]. F[ECIT]. V[IVVS]. V[ICO]. / M. D. XXIIII. [Sacred to Christ. He favoured the word of God with great piety, worthy to be revered by posterity forever. Albrecht Dürer made this for Duke Frederick of Saxony, Arch-Marshal, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire; B[ene] M[erenti] F[ecit] V[ivus] V[ivo] MDXXIIII]; verso, lower center, in graphite by a later hand: B.104; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: C.15382; verso, lower right, in graphite by a later hand: J.3117; verso, bottom center, in graphite by a later hand: D1 [?] [erased]; verso, bottom left, in graphite by a later hand: K6520; verso, bottom right, in graphite by a later hand: 19 [upside down]

Wikidata ID

Q64952687

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