Albrecht Dürer’s Portrait of Hieronymus Holzschuher is a masterpiece created in 1526, which can be found at the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, Germany. Holzschuher was a locally renowned patrician and senator of Nuremberg who championed the reformation movement in the city. The painting is a testament to Dürer’s remarkable talent as a portrait painter and his close friendship with Holzschuher.
The signature on the painting reads “Hieronimus Holzschver anno do[mi]ni 1526 etatis sve 57,” indicating that Holzschuher was 57 years old when Dürer painted his portrait. It is likely that the painting was commissioned for an official celebration and exhibited at Nuremberg’s town hall, given its significance to local history.
Dürer depicted Holzschuher with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, showcasing his clothing embroidered with gold, fur hat, collar brooches, and ring on his finger. The artist used various shades of color to create depth while preserving the naturalness of the sitter’s appearance. He included minimalistic symbolic elements such as surrounding plain background devoid of any landscape or architecture details that could distract from contemplating about the person.
Overall, Portrait of Hieronymus Holzschuher remains one of Dürer’s most significant contributions to art history. As well as being an exquisite example of Renaissance portraiture, it also documents one man’s important role in Nuremberg life during this tumultuous era.
