Albrecht Durer

At left: Portrait of Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony, 1496, Staatliche Museen, Berlin.
At right: Portrait of Oswolt Krel, 1499, Alte Pinakothek, Munich.

Above are two examples of Durer's portraiture, which I adore.

Elector Frederick the Wise
I've always loved this portrait. Though it is not one of Durer's better known works, it is, I think, significant
not only because the Elector Frederick was so important historically, but because Durer chose to paint him.
Frederick was twenty-four at the time the portrait was painted; his confrontation with the Roman Catholic
Church was still to come, as was his protection of Martin Luther. The scroll in Frederick's hand seems
to indicate that the Elector chose to be portrayed as a learned man.


Oswolt Krel
The Nuremberg merchant who commissioned the portrait asked Durer for a "true representation." The side panels
with 'Sylvan men' carrying the heraldic shields of Krel and his wife seem a daring choice.