Saints Nicholas, Ulrich, and Erasmus

Albrecht Dürer created the devotional Saints Nicholas, Ulrich, and Erasmus in 1508, during the height of the German Renaissance. This significant work, executed as a woodcut on laid paper, falls squarely within the artistic period of 1501 to 1550. Dürer’s mastery of the graphic arts allowed him to transition complex, detailed compositions traditionally reserved for painting into widely reproducible prints, making him a central figure in the distribution of artistic and religious ideas across Europe.

The composition depicts the three sainted figures standing in a unified grouping. Saint Nicholas is traditionally identifiable by the three golden balls or coins, representing his legendary charitable acts. Saint Ulrich, often associated with military or episcopal vestments, and Saint Erasmus, typically shown with the windlass indicating his martyrdom, are rendered with characteristic attention to textural detail. Dürer utilized the inherent contrast of the woodcut medium to define volumes and drapery, employing fine cross-hatching and dense parallel lines. This technique demonstrates why the printed output of this German master was so revolutionary.

As a leading figure of the German Renaissance, Dürer profoundly influenced subsequent generations of printmakers. This piece exemplifies the growing market for accessible religious imagery among private collectors and institutions in the early 16th century. The widespread dissemination of works like this allowed religious narratives to become highly accessible to the public. Today, due to their age and historical importance, high-resolution images of Dürer’s works are often made available through public domain initiatives by major institutions. This impression of the woodcut is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a key example of Northern European graphic arts from the period.