Wednesday
Mar082006
Dürer Works of Religious Subjects
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 07:41AM By now I hope your eyes are not glazing over from the number of Dürer works that I have shared with you. If this series is not to your liking, just drive right by; it's OK. I promise. Just promise me you'll come back and read the last post in the series.
I've had a very difficult time choosing a reasonable number to share with you, so I decided that I would post just one example from each category: paintings, drawings, woodcuts, engravings, and watercolors. (all except the watercolor are religious subjects)
Job and His Wife 15o4
painting
painting
Job and his Wife detail
Take a close look at that face. Looks like someone who might just tell her husband to "curse God and die," doesn't it?
Mount of Olives 1521
drawing
Title Page from The Large Passion 1497-1500 A series of 12 woodcutting on the life of Christ
From the link:
"The Large Passion is named after the format of the series (39 x 28 cm). The whole series of twelve cuts did not appear till 1511 when Dürer published the cycle, together with a title page and a poem by the Benedictine theologian and friend of Willibald Pirckheimer, Benedictus Chelidonius (died 1521). The first seven woodcuts were executed between 1497 and 1500, then the series was completed by five cuts in 1510. The complete edition in book form appeared in 1511."
Prodigal Son 1496
engraving
"In the Engraving of The Prodigal Son, Dürer deviated considerably from earlier depictions of the theme. Here, the scene is placed in the midst of a Franconian farm and shows the prodigal son at the moment of his repentance, kneeling in prayer on a pile of manure in the foreground amongst the swine. The naturalism of the picture was widely admired and contributed to the fame of the engraving."
View of Nuremburg 1496/97
watercolor
watercolor
Reader Comments (13)
I, personally, am really really enjoying this. Thank you for showing us Durer and his works!
Thanks for the feedback, Amy!
Sometimes it's hard to know whether something you think is interesting and enriching might be boring someone else to tears!
If even one person gains even a tiny bit of interest in Durer, the Renaissance, or art in general, I will be happy.
These Durer pieces are wonderful! Can you imagine doing that detail in wood or engravings? I'm curious about the background of your posts. Where did you find these? What motivated you to look into Durer?
Art is my first passion, I love to draw and watercolor, and I'm lately interested in photography.
In fact, Kim, I posted bark photos for you today at my blog.
I too enjoy your bits of Dürer. Keep it up! :)
Hi Carmen,
I've loved Durer's work since the first time I saw "Young Rabbit." That sent me off to find out more about him and to explore his works. I've read every biographical sketch or biography I can get my hands on and found that he is not only a gifted artist, but an interesting man as well.
The series sprang from a self portrait that my friend, Kate, posted on her blog. I set out to post up a some of his self-portraits, (there are many) but once started, I didn't know where to stop!
I'm off to see your bark! :)
Kyle,
OK, Mr. Smarty pants. How did you get the little dots above the "u" in Durer? I couldn't figure out how to do it.
Hi Kim~
Durer is my 10yo son's absolute favorite artist, he just pours over a book we have of his works.
Kim,
It is nice to see "real" art, something with skill and depth. When I see pieces like Durer's, it reminds me how detailed and deep each of the Lord's creations are...indescribable!
I wanted to also say that I really like that quote by St. Augustine. It sums it all up, doesn't it!
Have a blessed day!
So, how come Mrs. Job looks pregnant in that picture?
Kim, are you going to do another artist after this one? I'm enjoying it, too.
I did not notice that!
Well, didn't Job receive replacement children for the ones he'd lost?
You know, I might think about another artist series sometime. It would have to be an artist I really like, though. I have a few ideas. . .
Hi Karen!
Glad you like the quote! I've been changing them on Saturday mornings. I've been collecting quotes for at least 20 years, so I won't be running out soon!
Hi Beth,
How cool that your son likes art in general and Durer in particular!
Mmmmm...this is great. Just to let you know I'm looking but am unable to talk about the art just yet...I'll be back soon.
Kim, if you want another beautiful artist/ book, check out the illustrated Bible produced by Barry Moser a few years ago. I so wanted a copy when they came out, and it's only been affordable the last year or so that it's in the discount area at Barnes & Noble. For $15, it's worth buying a copy to have, and buying a copy to cut the engravings out of to frame. Gorgeous, I make people wash their hands before looking at it, it's that precious.
Kim,
Make sure your "Num Lock" is on. Press and hold "Alt" and type "0252" on the number pad: ü.
Alt+0249 ù
Alt+0250 ú
Alt+0251 û
Alt+0252 ü
Those are just the lower-case U's. ;)