Son of Righteousness

Son of Righteousness is a masterful engraving created by Albrecht Dürer between 1495 and 1505. This pivotal period marks the zenith of the German Renaissance, an era during which Dürer single-handedly revolutionized printmaking, successfully elevating the medium from a commercial craft to a respected, high art form. Executed using the challenging technique of copperplate engraving, this print demonstrates Dürer’s unparalleled precision in line work and his extraordinary ability to render complex textures and minute details across the metallic plate.

The high quality and comparative reproducibility of these early modern prints allowed Dürer's innovative imagery and sophisticated humanist concepts to disseminate rapidly across the entirety of Europe. While the specific allegorical or theological intent of Son of Righteousness remains subject to scholarly interpretation, the work exemplifies Dürer's consistent engagement with profound religious symbolism, characteristic of his graphic output from Germany. Dürer was instrumental in synthesizing Northern Gothic precision with Southern Renaissance ideals regarding classical proportion and formal balance, setting a new standard for Western art.

This powerful example of German printmaking is classified simply as a print and resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving its contribution to art history. As a foundational piece in the history of engraving, Dürer’s major works are frequently referenced and, where historical criteria permit, images of his prints are widely shared via the public domain, ensuring the master’s legacy remains accessible for global study.