Description
Philip Melanchthon by Albrecht Dürer brings the scholar close through a finely worked view of head and shoulders. His face turns to the side, with an attentive eye, furrowed brow and curling hair giving the portrait a vivid individual character. The plain clothing and lightly described background keep attention on the sitter rather than on elaborate surroundings.
Engraved in 1526, the portrait combines a clear silhouette with subtle transitions of light and shadow. A lettered panel below the figure adds a formal register without disturbing the intimacy of the likeness. Dürer’s careful treatment of the face makes the image compelling as an encounter with a thinking person, allowing expression and appearance to carry the sense of intellectual presence.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Dürer collection.
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