Saints Nicholas, Ulrich and Erasmus

The work Saints Nicholas, Ulrich and Erasmus by Albrecht Dürer is a masterful example of the German Renaissance woodcut technique, created during the height of the artist's productivity, approximately between 1485 and 1528. As a printmaker, Dürer revolutionized the accessibility and artistic standards of the medium. This particular piece depicts three important male figures revered within the Catholic tradition, capturing them with the characteristic detail and graphic complexity for which Dürer is renowned.

The central figures are the titular Saints: Nicholas of Myra, traditionally associated with sailors and children; Ulrich of Augsburg, a powerful 10th-century bishop; and Erasmus of Formia (also known as Saint Elmo), one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, often depicted with a winch. Each of these Saints is identifiable by specific attributes, which Dürer carefully renders to ensure recognition by the intended devotional audience.

The production of religious prints like this was critical during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, serving both devotional purposes and acting as reproducible artwork for widespread distribution across Europe. This piece demonstrates the technical precision achievable through the relief printing method, cementing Dürer’s reputation as the foremost graphic artist of his era. The enduring popularity of his imagery ensures that such woodcut prints remain highly studied artifacts of the German Renaissance. This specific impression is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given the age and cultural significance of the work, high-quality images of this print are often available in the public domain for research and educational purposes.