Saint Anthony Reading
Original title: Saint Anthony Reading
kurzbeschreibung
Albrecht Dürer made this engraving, "Saint Anthony Reading," in 1519. It places the saint in a quiet reading scene, with Anthony seated in the foreground and a detailed city opening up behind him.
Description
In the foreground sits a monk wearing a hat and an apron, holding a book with both hands as he reads. His feet are visible, and a wooden cross staff leans beside him. The background is filled with an exact city view featuring a walled castle; many buildings with various roof shapes and windows can be made out. The image remains in shades of gray, and in the lower left corner appears the date 1519.
Context
Dürer produced this print in 1519, a time when he was deeply engaged with religious subjects and depictions of saints. Saint Anthony, a hermit and patron saint of animals, was a popular subject in the late Middle Ages, representing contemplation and steadfastness. Dürer, active as an engraver and painter in Nuremberg, was then at the height of his career and experimenting with different printmaking techniques.
Impact
The image radiates a calm, meditative mood that invites the viewer to reflect. The precise linework and the accurate rendering of the city architecture create a balanced relationship between figure and setting. The shades of gray give the print a timeless, almost graphic elegance.
Technique
Dürer used engraving for this work: the motif is incised into a copper plate. The fine lines and hatching bring out effects of light and shadow, while the small dimensions of about 9.8 × 14.3 cm allow a detailed yet intimate rendering.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)