Description
Albrecht Dürer’s Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand unfolds across a crowded landscape of rocks, trees, and distant cliffs. Bright garments and sharply observed figures draw the eye from one episode to another, while the surrounding green landscape gives the complex scene a clear setting. Its abundance of detail rewards patient looking, revealing an intricate arrangement beneath the apparent tumult.
Completed in 1508, the painting represents the legendary martyrdom of Christian soldiers. Dürer brings together religious narrative, landscape, and the precise observation associated with his art. The work’s dramatic subject and carefully organized space make it a powerful example of Northern Renaissance storytelling.
Learn about the printing process in our guide to giclée prints. Explore more Albrecht Dürer prints, or view Adoration of the Trinity.
