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The Promenade

Print
ca. 1498 (engraved)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Engraving print on paper; inscribed with the artist's monogram. A young couple walks in the countryside, while unseen by them, death in the form of a skeleton lurks behind a twisted and leafless tree. The couple is a study in youth and beauty: the man stalwart and handsome, wearing a sword and dashing feathered cap; the woman demure, finely dressed and ornamented with an intricately-designed bodice, slashed sleeves and a tall patterned bonnet. The man looks towards his paramour as he gestures towards their path with one hand. To his left is a tall plant with a grassy seed head which may refer to the transience of nature and by analogy to human existence. Behind them, death scowls in their direction, holding aloft another vanitas symbol in the form of an hourglass.


Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • The Promenade (generic title)
  • Young Couple Threatened by Death (generic title)
  • Young Couple Reminded of Transience (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving print on paper
Brief description
The Promenade by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528); engraving
Physical description
Engraving print on paper; inscribed with the artist's monogram. A young couple walks in the countryside, while unseen by them, death in the form of a skeleton lurks behind a twisted and leafless tree. The couple is a study in youth and beauty: the man stalwart and handsome, wearing a sword and dashing feathered cap; the woman demure, finely dressed and ornamented with an intricately-designed bodice, slashed sleeves and a tall patterned bonnet. The man looks towards his paramour as he gestures towards their path with one hand. To his left is a tall plant with a grassy seed head which may refer to the transience of nature and by analogy to human existence. Behind them, death scowls in their direction, holding aloft another vanitas symbol in the form of an hourglass.
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.7cm
  • Width: 12.1cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'AD' (Artist's monogram at bottom middle.)
Credit line
Salting Bequest
Subjects depicted
Associated object
E.649-1940 (Version)
Bibliographic references
  • Strauss, Walter L., ed. The Illustrated Bartsch 10 (Commentary): Sixteenth Century German Artists, Albrecht Dürer. New York: Abaris Books, 1980. 328 p., ill. ISBN 089835000X. No. 94, pp.209-211.
  • Heller, Joseph. Das Leben und die Werke Albrecht Dürer. Bamberg: 1827. Vols. 2 & 3 (vol. 1 was not published). No.884.
  • Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog: Ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen. Vienna, 1932. No.83.
  • Dodgson, Campbell. Albrecht Dürer, Numerical Catalogue of the Engravings, Etchings, Dry-Points with Technical Details, London 1926. No.9.
  • Tietze, Hans and Erika Tietze-Conrat. Kritisches Verzeichnis der Werke Albrecht Dürers. Vol. 1, Augsburg 1928; vol.2, Basel and Leipzig 1937; vol.3, Basel and Leipzig, 1938. No.142.
  • Panofsky, Erwin. Albrecht Dürer. Princeton 1943. (Addenda in the editions of 1945 and 1948). No.201.
  • Strauss, W.L. The Intaglio Prints of Albrecht Dürer . New York, 1977. No.20.
  • Strauss, Walter L., ed. The Illustrated Bartsch 10 (Commentary): Sixteenth Century German Artists, Albrecht Dürer. New York: Abaris Books, 1980. 328 p., ill. ISBN 089835000X. No.84, pp.187-189.
  • Heller, Joseph. Das Leben und die Werke Albrecht Dürer. Bamberg: 1827. Vols. 2 & 3 (vol. 1 was not published). No.963.
  • Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog: Ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen. Vienna, 1932. No.85.
  • Dodgson, Campbell. Albrecht Dürer, Numerical Catalogue of the Engravings, Etchings, Dry-Points with Technical Details. London 1926. No.17.
  • Tietze, Hans and Erika Tietze-Conrat. Kritisches Verzeichnis der Werke Albrecht Dürers. Vol. 1, Augsburg 1928; vol.2, Basel and Leipzig 1937; vol.3, Basel and Leipzig, 1938. No.184.
  • Panofsky, Erwin. Albrecht Dürer. Princeton 1943. (Addenda in the editions of 1945 and 1948). No.191.
  • Strauss, W.L. The Intaglio Prints of Albrecht Dürer . New York, 1977.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1910, London, Printed for His Majesty’s Stationery Office 1911
Other number
B.94 - Le Peintre-Graveur
Collection
Accession number
E.4650-1910

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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