Albrecht Dürer, Gospel Illustrator

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

1511 was a key year for the woodcuts of Dürer. Over the previous ten years, he had prepared many religious images that were sold separately. In 1511 he grouped them in various sets, accompanied by Latin texts. Those listed hereafter were published on that year, in large format (approximately 40 x 30 cm): The Large Passion, The Small Passion, The Life of the Virgin and the Apocalypse.

The sale of 11 May of Bonhams and Butterfields to be simulcast in San Francisco and Los Angeles, includes a beautiful collection of works by Dürer, including a complete set of the Life of the Virgin with the 20 prints and text, in very good condition, estimated 80 K$. The prints have been combined from two major collections.

For this peaceful theme, Dürer provides his images with a narrative composition inspired by his predecessors of the Renaissance, soft and without violence. The delicacy and beauty of the line are worthy of this man who was one of the greatest artists of all time.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

There were three lots of similar descriptions, from different series. None of the three has been sold. The fact that this was reconstructed as a set by collectors is probably the cause of this failure.