{"product_id":"the-large-horse-by-albrecht-durer","title":"The Large Horse by Albrecht Dürer","description":"Albrecht Dürer\u003cbr\u003e 1471-1528 | German \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Large Horse\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dated in the plate on upper margin at center; monogrammed in the plate lower right: AD\u003cbr\u003e Meder state e (of f)\u003cbr\u003e Copperplate engraving on laid paper \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003e“Whatever was mortal in Albrecht Dürer lies beneath this mound.” — Albrecht Dürer’s epitaph\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Widely regarded as the greatest engraver in history, Albrecht Dürer revolutionized the art form by infusing it with unparalleled naturalism and technical mastery, a legacy that remains unsurpassed. His engraving \u003cem\u003eThe Large Horse\u003c\/em\u003e reflects his lifelong fascination with ideal beauty, naturalism and proportion. Influenced by the Italian Renaissance masters, including Pisanello, Donatello, Mantegna and Leonardo da Vinci, Dürer presents a monumental horse in a strikingly foreshortened pose, its powerful hindquarters closest to the viewer. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Standing with its rear legs slightly raised on a narrow ledge, the horse’s muscular form is accentuated by the artist’s meticulous rendering of sinew, coat texture and the finely curled hairs of its mane and tail. The animal's bridle is held by a partially obscured warrior, who strides forward behind it while carrying a vertical pike. A textured wall with vegetation and a column bearing the legs of a statue serves as the backdrop, enhancing the composition’s depth. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The large, bridled horse represents intellect’s victory over raw power, brought under control through discipline and mastery. Its tail is doubly knotted, reinforcing this theme of restraint. The armored warrior holding the bridle smiles victoriously as he strides forward. His ornate helmet is surmounted by a dolphin—considered the most intelligent of sea creatures. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Horses appear frequently in Dürer’s engravings, often serving as studies in movement and proportion or as symbolic figures. Here, Dürer takes a naturalistic approach, meticulously rendering every detail through finely detailed shading. The result is both a striking portrait of a powerful yet docile creature and a testament to Dürer’s exceptional skill in the copper engraving medium. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Albrecht Dürer, born in Nuremberg in 1471, is regarded as the most influential artist of the Northern Renaissance. Early in his career, Dürer apprenticed with his father, a goldsmith, and later with Michael Wolgemut, whose workshop introduced him to woodcut illustration. Fascinated by the Italian Renaissance, Dürer made two formative visits to Italy, where he absorbed the classical techniques of masters like Pollaiuolo, Mantegna and Michelangelo. Dürer engraved this poignant depiction of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child following his second trip to Venice in 1505-1507. The stay marked a turning point in his career, and this engraving reveals Dürer's deepened understanding of classical form, as well as his mastery of naturalistic effects in light and shade. His ability to merge these Italian influences with the Northern tradition of intricate detail established Dürer as a leading figure in Renaissance art. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Throughout his career, Dürer created works that transcended the boundaries of woodcuts, engravings and paintings, demonstrating unmatched intellectual and artistic depth. Dürer was the most influential German artist of his time, serving as court artist to both Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and his successor Charles V. Examples of this work are featured in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Harvard Art Museums and other esteemed institutions. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Plate dated 1505 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Paper: 6 1\/4\" high x 4 1\/2\" wide (15.88 x 11.43 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Frame: 17 1\/2\" high x 13 1\/2\" wide x 1 1\/8\" deep (44.45 x 34.29 x 2.86 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Literature:\u003cbr\u003e Dodgson, C. \u003cem\u003eThe Masters of Engraving and Etching: Albrecht Dürer\u003c\/em\u003e, London and Boston, 1926. No. 44.\u003cbr\u003e Hollstein, F.W.H. \u003cem\u003eGerman Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, c.1400-1700.\u003c\/em\u003e Volume VII. Amsterdam: M. Hertzberger, 1954-. No. 94.\u003cbr\u003e Panofsky, E. \u003cem\u003eThe Life and Art of Albrecht Dürer\u003c\/em\u003e, Princeton, New Jersey, 1971. No. 126\u003cbr\u003e Schoch, R., M. Mende and A. Scherbaum. \u003cem\u003eAlbrecht Dürer. Das Druckgraphische Werk.\u003c\/em\u003e Band I: Kupferstiche, Eisenradierungen und Kaltnadelblätter. Munich, London, New York, 2001. No. 43. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Private Collection, Germany\u003cbr\u003e MSR, New Orleans","brand":"MSR","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50275022930210,"sku":"32-0469","price":39850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0961\/6710\/0706\/files\/32-0469_1_bacc0cd8-9d5c-4be7-9a75-d76f916044f1.png?v=1756231447","url":"https:\/\/banksyarts.com\/products\/the-large-horse-by-albrecht-durer","provider":"The Louvre of America","version":"1.0","type":"link"}