Frederick the wise, Elector of Saxony.

Albrecht Dürer produced many portraits which were either drawn or painted, but made comparatively few printed portraits. His subjects were his friends and associates but also leading figures in politics, religion, science and the arts as well as key figures involved in the Reformation. Some of these portraits were for private use while some were designed from the outset for public display. By the time of producing this print, later in his career, Dürer was an accomplished master of engraving.

Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony (1463-1525), the subject of this print, was one of Dürer's earliest significant patrons. The print was done a year before the death of Frederick and is based on a silverpoint drawing made by Dürer now in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. The drawing was presumably made during a visit by Frederick to Nuremberg in 1522-23, where Dürer had his workshop. The print from this drawing is small and intimate. Dürer shows the Elector, almost full-face, filling the whole space, and demonstrates the artist's technical mastery of engraving in the detail of the Elector's voluminous beard and the intricacies of the fur mantle. Dürer shows the reflection of a window in the eyes of his sitter, a device often used by the artist in his portraits. On either side of the head are the coat of arms of the Prince Elect of Saxony to the left and the Dukedom of Saxony to the right. The lettering in Latin on the tablet in front of the Elector reads 'Sacred to Christ. He favoured the word of God with great piety, worthy to be revered by posterity forever. Albrecht Dürer made this for Duke Frederick of Saxony, Arch-Marshal, Elector of the Holy Roman Empire....'. Frederick is remembered as the man who saved Martin Luther from the fury of the Catholic Church. Following Luther's excommunication in 1521 he ensured his safe protection in Wartburg Castle.

See: 'Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony', http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O137565/frederick-the-wise-elector-of-print-durer-albrecht/

Mark Stocker, Curator Historical International Art   December 2016