The Patron Saints of Austria

The Patron Saints of Austria is a significant woodcut by the German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer. This specific impression, classified as a fine art print, is a 1922 Dershau restrike, executed nearly four centuries after Dürer’s original design was created. The process of the restrike, utilizing an existing or refurbished wood matrix, allows for the continued study and distribution of the artist’s foundational work well into the modern era.

Dürer, who fundamentally revolutionized printmaking in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, originally created the design for this complex devotional subject. The work depicts the various Saints historically revered as celestial guardians of Austria, reflecting the deep integration of specific religious figures and iconography into European civic and imperial identity during the Renaissance period. The detailed composition and precise line work showcase Dürer’s characteristic technical brilliance and mastery of the woodcut medium, hallmarks that secured his profound influence across Northern Europe.

As a dedicated printmaker, Dürer ensured that his theological understanding and religious imagery were widely accessible through the mass production of his prints, circulating his artistic innovations to a broad audience. This particular 1922 restrike, which effectively brings a historic image to a modern audience, resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Owing to the age and widespread dissemination of Dürer’s influential designs, many impressions and facsimiles of his renowned The Patron Saints of Austria are considered part of the public domain, guaranteeing their lasting historical and artistic impact.