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University of Texas at Austin

Albrecht Dürer Art Collection:

An Inventory of His Art Collection at the Harry Ransom Center

Creator: Dürer, Albrecht, 1472-1528
Title: Albrecht Dürer Art Collection
Dates: circa 1500s-1900s
Extent: 45 items
Abstract: A collection of Renaissance wood engravings and woodcuts by German printmaker and painter Albrecht Dürer, and copies of his works by unknown artists made after Dürer’s death. The majority of the works are of Christian religious subjects including the Passion cycle and the life of the Virgin Mary.
Call Number: Art Collection AR-00078
Language: English
Access: Open for research. Please note that a minimum of 24 hours notice is required to pull art materials to the Ransom Center's Reading and Viewing Room. Some materials may be restricted from viewing. To make an appointment or to reserve Art Collection materials, please contact the Center's staff at art@hrc.utexas.edu. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials.
Use Policies: Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of Texas at Austin assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use: Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom Centers' Open Access and Use Policies.


Administrative Information


Acquisition: Purchases, 1965, and internal transfers from the James F. Drake, Inc., and Edward Alexander Parsons Art Collections.
Repository:

Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Biographical Sketch


Albrecht Dürer, born in Nuremberg, Germany, on May 24, 1471, was the son of a master goldsmith. Beginning at age 15, after he showed an early aptitude for drawing, Durer studied painting and printing with Michael Wolgemut, the most well-known artist in Nuremberg. As a young man he traveled abroad for four years, likely visiting Switerzland, the Netherlands, and Italy, where he sought to study with master painters, engravers, and printers. He returned to Nuremberg in 1494 and set up his own workshop, and earned a steady stream of commissions. From 1500 to 1520 the workshop's output was prolific, producing several significant paintings, altarpieces, woodcuts, and engravings. In the last years of his life, Dürer concentrated his efforts on writings about human proportion and perspective. Both the circulation of his prints and his many artistic disciples assured the continuation of his style and innovations in painting and printmaking long after his death in Nurmeberg in 1528.

Sources:


"DÜRER, Albrecht." Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed July 14, 2017, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/benezit/B00056308.

Scope and Contents


The collection consists of wood engravings and woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528) that date to the Rennaisance period. Also included are copies of his works made later by unknown artists. The majority of the works are of Christian religious subjects and iconography, including a full set of Dürer's series "The Little Passion" and two scenes from his series "The Life of the Virgin." The collection is divided into two series: I. Works by Durer, and II. Works by others.

Related Material


An additional woodcut by Dürer can be found in the Center's Popular Imagery Art Collection (AR-00208).

Separated Material


Index Terms


Subjects

Jesus Christ--Art.
Jesus Christ--Passion.
Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint.
Portraits.

Places

Jerusalem.

Document Types

Engravings.
Woodcuts.
Etchings.

Item List