Maximilian's Alliance with Henry VIII; The Double Wedding in Vienna; The Campaign in Gelderland; The Investiture of Massimiliano Sforza as Duke of Milan; and The Venetian War, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18

Maximilian's Alliance with Henry VIII; The Double Wedding in Vienna; The Campaign in Gelderland; The Investiture of Massimiliano Sforza as Duke of Milan; and The Venetian War, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18 is a monumental narrative work by Albrecht Dürer. This complex piece is one of the numerous historical and allegorical scenes designed by Dürer for the colossal, temporary triumphal Arch of Honor, commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. Executed primarily in the medium of woodcut, sometimes enhanced by letterpress for explanatory text, this print is a definitive example of early 16th-century German Renaissance graphic art, demonstrating the era’s technical innovation.

The subject matter details pivotal dynastic and military achievements crucial to Maximilian I’s reign. The scenes illustrate key political maneuvers, including the forging of an alliance with Henry VIII of England, the famed double wedding designed to secure the Habsburg succession, military campaigns in Gelderland, and the strategically significant investiture of Massimiliano Sforza as Duke of Milan. These detailed prints were intended as Imperial propaganda, visually chronicling the Emperor's accomplishments for a broad European audience.

Dürer’s detailed handling of the woodcut medium allowed for clarity despite the dense compositions necessary to convey these varied historical narratives across multiple sections. This specific impression is a proof state derived from the overall Arch of Honor project. As the most celebrated figure of the German Renaissance, Dürer’s engagement elevated the status of prints as both fine art and communicative tools. This woodcut is preserved within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and its significance has ensured that images from this historic series are widely studied and available through the public domain.