The Betrothal of Mary of Burgundy; Young Maximilian; The Struggle for the Burgundian Succession; The Battle Near Therouanne; The War in Guelderland; and The Utrecht Feud, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18

The complex title, The Betrothal of Mary of Burgundy; Young Maximilian; The Struggle for the Burgundian Succession; The Battle Near Therouanne; The War in Guelderland; and The Utrecht Feud, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18, identifies this piece as one element of the colossal Arch of Honor commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I. Created by Albrecht Dürer, this monumental project utilized the Renaissance woodcut technique combined with integrated letterpress text. This specific impression serves as an important early proof, executed in 1515, preceding the finalized prints distributed between 1517 and 1518.

Dürer designed this section to visually recount crucial dynastic and military successes essential to the Habsburg narrative. The composition highlights the strategic marriage of Maximilian, his rise as a young monarch, and the ensuing military and diplomatic campaigns, specifically detailing the pivotal struggles surrounding the Burgundian Succession. The print further narrates specific historical events such as the decisive Battle Near Therouanne, the conflicts surrounding the War in Guelderland, and the resolution of the Utrecht Feud. These narrative prints functioned not merely as art, but as effective propaganda, celebrating Maximilian I’s political acumen and military might, disseminating the Imperial story widely across the Holy Roman Empire.

As a foundational piece of German Renaissance prints, the execution quality demonstrates Dürer’s unparalleled mastery of the woodblock medium. The finished Arch of Honor project remains one of the most ambitious print commissions in history. This historically significant proof, detailing key events in the early life of the Emperor, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a vital record of Imperial patronage and early sixteenth-century printmaking innovation.