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Epitome in Divae Parthenices Mariae Historiam ab Alberto Durero [Life of the Virgin]

Original title: Epitome in Divae Parthenices Mariae Historiam ab Alberto Durero [Life of the Virgin]

Artist

Chelidonius

Date

1511

Medium

Woodcuts

Dimensions

17 5/16 × 11 7/8 × 7/16 in. (43.9 × 30.1 × 1.1 cm)

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1919

kurzbeschreibung

Chelidonius provided the text for this illustrated book edition published in 1511, for which Albrecht Dürer contributed the woodcuts. The scenes, drawn from the life of the Virgin, include a traveling group with one person riding a donkey. Dürer's woodcuts display the precise linework that is characteristic of him.

Description

One figure rides a donkey, accompanied by a pilgrim with a staff. Palms and trees suggest a natural setting. The figures wear traditional garments, pointing to a historical era. The layout is symmetrical, with the main figure on the donkey placed centrally. The lines are sharp and clear, as is typical of Dürer's woodcut art.

Context

The work was created in 1511 in Nuremberg, when Dürer was at the height of his woodcut technique. It belongs to a series of 20 woodcuts on the story of Mary, promoted by Emperor Maximilian I. The text comes from the humanist Chelidonius, who wrote poems for several Dürer projects. The edition was published as a book with Latin verses and images.

Impact

The woodcuts stand out for their fine linework and calm, narrative arrangement. The monochrome presentation directs attention to the details of the figures and the landscape. Symmetry and clear lines convey a dignified, almost meditative mood.

Technique

For the woodcuts, the design was cut into a woodblock and then printed onto paper. Dürer used fine lines and hatching to create depth and texture. The edition is a bound book measuring about 43.9 × 30.1 cm, indicating a large-format, representative work.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)