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Satyr Family

Print
1505 (engraved)
Artist/Maker
Durer (artist)
Place of origin
Nuremberg (engraved)

In this print Dürer uses the compositional interplay of horizontal and vertical and his skill as an engraver in evoking texture to emphasize the differences between the sexes: the mother holds onto the spiky branch of a tree, which forms a visual rhyme with the satyr’s horns and is echoed by the higher branches. The verticality of the trees and the twisted and sinewy texture of the bark underlines the satyr’s masculinity, in contrast with the soft, pale smoothness of the woman. The darkness of the background gives the impression of a secluded clearing surrounded by dense and ancient woodland.

Object details

Category
Prints
Object type
Print
TitleSatyr Family (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving print on paper
Printing Ink
Paper
Engraving
Brief description
The Satyr and his family by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528); engraving
Physical description
Engraving print on paper; inscribed with date and artist’s monogram. An intimate family portrait in the midst of a dark forest: a bearded satyr with the horns, tail and legs of a goat plays a bagpipe-like musical instrument to amuse his offspring, a baby cradled on the lap of his naked mother who reclines on a fur animal skin laid on the ground. In the background, the trunks and lower branches of several bare and leafless trees.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.7cm
  • Width: 7.1cm
Style
Renaissance
Marks and inscriptions
'1505 / AD' (Date and artist's monogram inscribed illusionistically at upper right)
Credit line
Salting Bequest
Subjects depicted
Families
Satyrs
Musical Instruments
Forests
Babies
Summary
In this print Dürer uses the compositional interplay of horizontal and vertical and his skill as an engraver in evoking texture to emphasize the differences between the sexes: the mother holds onto the spiky branch of a tree, which forms a visual rhyme with the satyr’s horns and is echoed by the higher branches. The verticality of the trees and the twisted and sinewy texture of the bark underlines the satyr’s masculinity, in contrast with the soft, pale smoothness of the woman. The darkness of the background gives the impression of a secluded clearing surrounded by dense and ancient woodland.
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.69, pp.153-155.
  • Bartrum, Guilia, ed. Albrecht Dürer and his Legacy - The Graphic Work of a Renaissance Artist / with contributions by Günter Grass, Joseph L. Koerner and Ute Kuhlemann. London: The British Museum Press, 2002. 320 p., ill. ISBN 0714126330. No.198, p.245.
  • Dodgson, Campbell. Albrecht Dürer, Numerical Catalogue of the Engravings, Etchings, Dry-Points with Technical Details, London 1926. No.42.
  • Hollstein, F.W.H. German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, c.1400-1700. Volume VII. Amsterdam: M. Hertzberger, 1954-. No.65.
  • Rowlands, J.K. The Graphic Work of Albrecht Dürer: An Exhibition of his Prints and Drawings in Commemmoration of the Quincentenary of his Birth. London: British Museum, 1971. Exhibition catalogue. No.112.
  • Schoch, R., M. Mende and A. Scherbaum. Albrecht Dürer. Das Druckgraphische Werk. Band I: Kupferstiche, Eisenradierungen und Kaltnadelblätter. Munich, London, New York, 2001. No.44.
  • Heller, Joseph. Das Leben und die Werke Albrecht Dürer. Bamberg: 1827. Vols. 2 & 3 (vol. 1 was not published). No.819.
  • Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog: Ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen. Vienna, 1932. No.65.
  • 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.275.
  • Panofsky, Erwin. Albrecht Dürer. Princeton 1943. (Addenda in the editions of 1945 and 1948). No.176.
  • Strauss, W.L. The Intaglio Prints of Albrecht Dürer . New York, 1977. No.43.
  • 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.69 - Le Peintre-Graveur
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.4627-1910

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O781151/satyr-family-print-durer/
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