Melencolia I
Print
1514 (printed)
1514 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of Albrecht Dürer’s three acknowledged ‘Master Prints’, the others being Knight, Death and the Devil and St. Jerome in his Study. Made between 1513 and 1514 these three prints marked the pinnacle of his technical accomplishment as an engraver.
From 1507 Dürer (1471–1528) experimented with lighting effects in his prints, introducing grey tones between the white of the paper and darkest shadows. Seen close-up the grey tones in this image are a complex array of dots, curved lines, cross hatching and other irregular marks, which combine to produce an astonishing range of textures. Dürer used stippling for the landscape in the background but short dashes for the dog’s hair and fine parallel lines for the sky and water. In this way, he masterfully reproduced a range of effects, from the shine of the hourglass to the soft folds of the woman’s skirt.
From 1507 Dürer (1471–1528) experimented with lighting effects in his prints, introducing grey tones between the white of the paper and darkest shadows. Seen close-up the grey tones in this image are a complex array of dots, curved lines, cross hatching and other irregular marks, which combine to produce an astonishing range of textures. Dürer used stippling for the landscape in the background but short dashes for the dog’s hair and fine parallel lines for the sky and water. In this way, he masterfully reproduced a range of effects, from the shine of the hourglass to the soft folds of the woman’s skirt.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Melencolia I (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving |
| Brief description | Engraving. Albrecht Dürer. Melancholy, 1514. |
| Physical description | Melanchola sits in front of a structure holding a compass. A dog lies at her feet and a cherub sits nearby writing on a slate. Round about on the floor are strewn a large block of stone, a large ball, a plank of wood and a number of tools such as saw, hammer, anvil, nails, also a telescope and plant pot. Against the wall of the structure rests a ladder, and scales, hourglass and a bell hang from the wall. On the wall is a plaque with numbers laid out in a square grid. In the background is a town on the edge of the sea, which is lit up by the sun and rainbow. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'AD / 1514' (Signed and dated) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of Albrecht Dürer’s three acknowledged ‘Master Prints’, the others being Knight, Death and the Devil and St. Jerome in his Study. Made between 1513 and 1514 these three prints marked the pinnacle of his technical accomplishment as an engraver. From 1507 Dürer (1471–1528) experimented with lighting effects in his prints, introducing grey tones between the white of the paper and darkest shadows. Seen close-up the grey tones in this image are a complex array of dots, curved lines, cross hatching and other irregular marks, which combine to produce an astonishing range of textures. Dürer used stippling for the landscape in the background but short dashes for the dog’s hair and fine parallel lines for the sky and water. In this way, he masterfully reproduced a range of effects, from the shine of the hourglass to the soft folds of the woman’s skirt. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.596-1890 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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