The Triumphal Chariot of Maximilian I (The Great Triumphal Car) [plate 6 of 8]

The Triumphal Chariot of Maximilian I (The Great Triumphal Car) [plate 6 of 8] is an intricate woodcut executed by the influential German Renaissance master, Albrecht Dürer, circa 1522. Although published three years after the death of the Holy Roman Emperor, this monumental print belongs to the ambitious, posthumously completed imperial propaganda series known collectively as Der Triumphzug. Maximilian I commissioned the project not as a physical parade, but as a series of prints designed to glorify his lineage, military achievements, and political stature through wide distribution across Europe.

This piece constitutes one crucial segment of the main feature: the massive, allegorical Triumphal Car. The woodcut medium, during the 1501 to 1550 period, offered an effective method for disseminating complex images, and Dürer excelled at pushing the technical boundaries of the medium. The finely rendered detail and the dense assembly of figures demonstrate his mastery, elevating the woodcut from a simple reproductive tool to a vehicle for high art.

The specific subject matter on plate 6 illustrates the dense allegorical program devised by the Emperor’s humanists. The composition features numerous personifications of imperial virtues and abstract concepts-such as Prudence, Justice, and Magnanimity-all gathered around the chariot itself. These figures are typically accompanied by supporting inscriptions and classical references, emphasizing the Emperor’s divine mandate and lasting legacy.

The involvement of Dürer confirmed the high importance placed on this endeavor. As one of the foundational prints defining the German Renaissance aesthetic, the work remains a vital reference point for understanding imperial patronage and the utilization of graphic arts in the 16th century. This important segment of the Triumphal Car series is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, ensuring that this important piece of history and art, now effectively in the public domain, is preserved for scholarly study.