The Ascension

probably c. 1509/1510

Albrecht Dürer

Associated Names
Albrecht Dürer

Artist, German, 1471 - 1528

The image shows a group of people with most of their bodies shown, kneeling or standing in various positions, all focused on a central figure that appears to be ascending. The individuals have hair of various styles, ranging from curly and short to long and wavy. Their facial features are rendered with expressive details, showing them in a variety of poses, all looking upwards. Each person is dressed in flowing robes with folds and detailed textures. There appear to be no visible items of jewelry, nor are they holding any objects. In the background, a cloudy sky is depicted, with the focus drawn towards the central figure disappearing into the heavens, largely obscured by clouds. The scene is framed by a simple border.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to block): 12.7 × 9.9 cm (5 × 3 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.3666

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Meder, no. 159

  • Series Title

    The Small Woodcut Passion

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Joseph Daniel Böhm [1794-1865], Vienna (Lugt 271); Robert Scholtz [1834-1912], Budapest (Lugt 2241); (William Schab, New York); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA (Lugt 1760b and Lugt 1932d), 1940; gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1956

  • The Life of Christ in Prints, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1956-1957, no cat.

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. 159.

2001

  • Schoch, Rainer, Mattihas Mende, and Anna Scherbaum. Albrecht Dürer: Das druckgraphische Werk. Munich, 2001: vol. 2: no. 220.

Inscriptions

in block, bottom left, on tablet: AD [artist's monogram]; verso, lower center, in graphite by a later hand: 627; verso, bottom left, in graphite by a later hand: B 50; verso, bottom center, in graphite by a later hand: 35

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q18338890

You may be interested in

Loading Results