Willibald Pirckheimer

The engraving Willibald Pirckheimer was created by Albrecht Dürer in 1524. This detailed print is a powerful portrait of the artist’s lifelong friend and intellectual confidant, the acclaimed Nuremberg humanist and classical scholar Willibald Pirckheimer (1470-1530). Executed late in Dürer’s career, the work showcases the meticulous technique characteristic of his mature engravings, demonstrating the high watermark of German Renaissance printmaking.

Dürer placed the subject in a tightly controlled setting, focusing all attention on the intensity of the man’s expression. As a prominent member of Nuremberg’s intellectual community and a close advisor to Emperor Maximilian I, Pirckheimer was a vital figure of the era. The inscription above the portrait, rendered in classical Latin lettering, identifies Pirckheimer and specifies his age (54), underscoring his intellectual status rather than his social rank. Dürer’s mastery of the difficult engraving process is evident in the nuanced modeling of the surfaces, using precise lines and crosshatching to achieve varied textures and deep contrasts essential for powerful portraiture.

As a print, the work was designed for wide circulation, contributing significantly to both Pirckheimer's public renown and Dürer’s own established legacy as the foremost printmaker of his time. This significant example of early 16th-century German portraiture currently resides in the robust collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its inclusion in major public domain and museum collections ensures that these classic prints remain accessible for scholarly study and public appreciation worldwide.