Sudarium Held by Two Angels

Sudarium Held by Two Angels is a powerful copper engraving created by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer in 1513. This date positions the work immediately following the completion of Dürer’s famed Meisterstiche (Master Engravings), highlighting the artist’s absolute command over the burin and the technical possibilities of the print medium. The meticulously executed lines and cross-hatching demonstrate Dürer’s ability to render complex textures, from the flowing, shadowed drapery of the supporting Angels to the delicate strands of hair composing the crown of thorns.

The subject matter focuses intensely on the image of Christ, imprinted miraculously upon the Sudarium, the sacred cloth often identified with Saint Veronica’s veil. The central placement of Christ’s suffering face transforms the engraving into a profound devotional object, reflecting contemporary religious focus on the physical sacrifice associated with the Passion. Two large, powerful Angels, depicted with expressions of profound grief, flank and support the linen cloth, creating a highly symmetrical composition that directs the viewer’s attention solely to the relic.

Dürer utilized prints such as this to disseminate his innovative style widely across Europe, cementing his international reputation. The precision of the work ensures its continued status as a landmark of Renaissance printmaking. This particular impression resides in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given the historical significance and popularity of Dürer’s oeuvre, high-resolution images of these masterly prints are often made available through public domain archives, ensuring the widespread study of this iconic German Renaissance piece today.