Lower Portion of the Entryway to the Right Portal (Die Porten des Adels); and the Outer Right Sockel of the Central Portal, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18

Lower Portion of the Entryway to the Right Portal (Die Porten des Adels); and the Outer Right Sockel of the Central Portal, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18 by Albrecht Dürer is a remarkable woodcut print detailing architectural elements from one of the most ambitious graphic undertakings of the Northern Renaissance. Designed primarily by Dürer, the monumental project known as the Arch of Honor was commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I to celebrate his lineage and achievements.

This particular woodcut, printed during the years 1517-18, serves as a fragment of the overall assembled structure, focusing specifically on the base of the right portal, symbolically titled Die Porten des Adels (The Portal of Nobility), and a corresponding segment of the central entrance plinth. The image is dated 1515, indicating when Dürer completed the design necessary for the cutting of the woodblock. The meticulous execution required for translating complex architectural and sculptural details into the high-contrast medium of the woodcut demonstrates Dürer’s technical mastery and established him as the preeminent printmaker of his generation.

The Arch project utilized 192 separate blocks, reflecting the scale and propagandistic purpose of the work, which functioned as a non-portable memorial. The work resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection as an important example of 16th-century German prints. Historical prints such as this Dürer woodcut, being centuries old, are frequently made accessible via public domain resources, allowing students and enthusiasts worldwide to study the intricacy of this monumental Renaissance production.