Coat -of-Arms of Johan Stabius, edition of 1781

Description

Coat-of-Arms of Johan Stabius combines a heraldic shield and crest with an eagle and lettered emblems. Coat-of-Arms of Johan Stabius gives personal identity an unusually rich ornamental setting, balancing clear central forms with curling details that reward close attention. The inscription and image work together as parts of a single carefully framed arrangement.

This woodcut represents the design in an edition of 1781, preserving the distinction between Dürer’s original conception and the later printing. Strong contours make feathers, foliage and heraldic ornament readily legible, while small openings keep the crowded surface from feeling closed. The image’s pleasure lies in its combination of order and invention. A device of identification becomes an intricate composition, inviting the eye to follow each flourish back toward the central shield.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Dürer collection.