The Arms of Ferdinand I, King of Hungary and Bohemia

The Arms of Ferdinand I, King of Hungary and Bohemia, created by Albrecht Dürer in 1527, is a monumental example of German Renaissance graphic design produced late in the artist’s life. Executed as a detailed woodcut print, the work demonstrates the artist's enduring skill in manipulating the medium for large-scale, authoritative commissions. This piece was produced shortly after Ferdinand I, the younger brother of Emperor Charles V, secured the crowns of Bohemia and Hungary in 1526, an event that significantly expanded Habsburg influence in Central Europe following the decisive Battle of Mohács.

The primary subject is the intricate royal Coat of Arms, a complex visual representation of Ferdinand’s expanded dominion and legitimacy. Dürer treats the dense heraldic elements, including the numerous quarterings, supporters, and crests, with the meticulous precision characteristic of his mature period. The bold lines and stark contrasts inherent to the woodcut technique perfectly suited the powerful and official display required for imperial and royal prints intended for broad dissemination. Dürer was known not only as a master painter and draftsman but also as a prolific designer of sophisticated prints and official state documents.

This significant work of German Renaissance prints resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The representation of the arms serves as a critical historical document of Habsburg political consolidation and expansion during the early modern period. The enduring quality and public availability of such important historical works mean that many impressions of this particular print have entered the public domain, allowing wide access and scholarly study of Dürer’s crucial contributions to heraldic and official art.