The Pinnacle of the Right Portal; and a Trumpeter and Standard from the Central Portal, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18 is a monumental woodcut by the German Renaissance master, Albrecht Dürer. This highly detailed print is a specific segment of the Arch of Honor (Ehrenpforte), a colossal propaganda piece commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) to glorify his imperial lineage, military successes, and political power. Dürer served as the primary architect and designer for this allegorical structure, which was never built but existed solely as a composite image assembled from over 190 individual woodblocks.
This particular section details the ornate architectural elements crowning the Arch, focusing on the sophisticated design of the pinnacle of the right supporting portal. It also features martial figures, including a trumpeter and a standard-bearer, which symbolize the Arch’s triumphal purpose. The classification of this impression as a proof print suggests it was pulled before the final edition, offering researchers valuable insight into the complex production process of this mammoth printing project. Dürer’s mastery of the woodcut medium allowed him to render immense detail and rich texture, transforming the challenging print technique into a viable format for grand historical narrative. This vital piece of Renaissance printmaking is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a historical document and artistic masterwork, the image is now widely shared in the public domain.
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