Willibald Pirckheimer is an exemplary portrait engraving executed by Albrecht Dürer in 1524. Created late in Dürer’s career, this sophisticated print demonstrates the artist’s consummate mastery of the burin, employing precise line work and cross-hatching to define form and texture in high relief.
The subject is Willibald Pirckheimer (1470–1530), the renowned German humanist, author, and politician who served as Dürer's lifelong friend and intellectual collaborator. As a leading figure in the Nuremberg Renaissance, Pirckheimer’s portrait holds significant historical weight, capturing the sitter’s intellectual intensity and aged gravitas. Dürer’s depiction focuses on the man's contemplative profile, emphasizing the rich details of his attire, particularly the heavy fur lining of his collar—a signifier of status among distinguished men of the period.
This work belongs to a notable group of masterful portraits Dürer produced around 1524 to 1526, showcasing his capacity to render highly individualized likenesses in the demanding medium of prints. The high level of detail and technical finish ensures the enduring quality of the print. This exceptional example of Renaissance printmaking is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given its age and established status, this historically significant artwork is widely recognized and frequently reproduced as a key piece within the public domain.
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