1884 Facsimile Reproduction of Albrecht Dürer’s Woodcut Small Passion – Jesus Before Herod

1884 Facsimile Reproduction of Albrecht Dürer’s Woodcut Small Passion – Jesus Before Herod The Small Passion is one of the most famous woodcut series by Albrecht Dürer. It was first published in 1511 and consists of 36 small-scale woodcuts (~5 x 3.75 inches) depicting Jesus Christ’s final days as a mortal, along with a frontispiece of Jesus seated in suffering. The original woodcuts were published in 1511 in Germany and later in 1612 in Italy, with several smaller publications in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1839, 35 of the original plates were acquired by the British Museum, and no known original prints were produced afterward. However, due to the popularity of the series, many artists—including Johannes Mommard, Virgil Solis, and Marcantonio Raimondi (who created an engraving version)—produced their own interpretations. Additionally, several high-quality facsimile editions were made: 1844 Henry Cole Edition – Used the stereotype technique to reproduce 35 plates from the British Museum collection, hiring Thurston Thompson to recut the two missing plates (Jesus Parting from His Mother and the frontispiece). Since damages in the original plates were restored in the new stereotype plates, Cole claimed that this edition was the "fourth edition of the genuine blocks" and closer to the original state. 1868 Carl August Deis Edition – A line-by-line recut of The Small Passion woodcuts, published in Stuttgart. While meticulously executed, this version appears overly "fresh" due to excessive restorations. Photomechanical Reproductions – Various editions were created, including 1868 W. C. Prime’s and 1884 Georg Hirth’s editions. Original prints from The Small Passion created from Dürer’s plates command thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per piece today, depending on the state. Reproductions vary in collector interest and value. After examining various editions, I determined that this piece is a photomechanical reproduction (likely planographic printing) from Georg Hirth’s 1884 edition of The Small Passion, published in his "Liebhaber-Bibliothek alter Illustratoren" series. Print Details: Image size: 5 x 3.75 inches Sheet size: 8.5 x 5.5 inches Paper type: High-quality laid paper, likely produced by Hugo Alb. Schoeller paper mill (based on a watermark found on another print from the same source). Condition: Overall good, with a minor tear on the lower edge and slight discoloration along all edges. Disclaimer: I have conducted thorough research to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of this engraving to the best of my ability. However, it is sold as is, with no guarantees or warranties regarding its provenance or historical attribution.