Description
Albrecht Altdorfer–Flight into Egypt–Early 16th CWoodcut–Partial W.38 Verso
An original early 16th-century woodcut by GermanRenaissance master Albrecht Altdorfer (ca. 1480–1538), titled The Flight intoEgypt, from his forty-print series The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Throughthe Life and Passion of Christ. Created circa 1513, the composition depicts theHoly Family during their flight into Egypt, with Joseph leading the donkeythrough a detailed landscape dominated by distant architecture. Altdorfer’s AAmonogram appears prominently in the clouds at upper left.
Albrecht Altdorfer was one of the leading artists of theGerman Renaissance and a central figure of the Danube School. Active primarilyin Regensburg, he worked as a painter, draughtsman, printmaker, architect, andcivic official. The Fall and Salvation of Mankind is among his most importantwoodcut cycles and is notable for compressing complex biblical narratives intoexceptionally small and intricate compositions.
This is an early impression associated with the firstprinting campaign of the series. New Hollstein records the earliest series asprinted on whole sheets with multiple woodblocks printed together before theindividual compositions were separated. The forty woodcuts were originallyarranged as multiple impressions on larger sheets, preceding latersingle-impression printings and the substantially later 1604 Froben edition ofIcones Sacrae. The work is catalogued as New Hollstein W.13, Bartsch 13, TheIllustrated Bartsch 13, Dodgson II 13, Geisberg 13, and Winzinger 38.
Of particular interest, the verso preserves a partialfailed impression from another woodblock in the same series, identifiable asThe Death of the Virgin. This unusual printing evidence is directly comparableto another impression of The Flight into Egypt in the collection of theFitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, which is likewise recorded as originating fromthe early multi-block printing campaign and retaining evidence of a failedprinting on the verso. The survival of this partial impression provides a tangiblerecord of the production process used for the earliest printing of Altdorfer’sseries.
The print is in good condition for its age and retains astrong, detailed impression. There is minor coloration, minor foxing, and lighthandling wear. Old tape and adhesive remnants are present on the verso,together with a pencil inscription. The verso also preserves a partial failedimpression of The Death of the Virgin from the same series. Unframed. Pleaserefer to the pictures for condition.
Details:
• Artist: Albrecht Altdorfer (ca. 1480–1538)
• Title: The Flight into Egypt
• Series: The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through theLife and Passion of Christ
• Date: ca. 1513
• Medium: Woodcut on paper
• State: Early impression from the first multi-impressionprinting campaign
• Catalogue Raisonné:
– New HollsteinW.13
– Bartsch 13
– TheIllustrated Bartsch 13
– Dodgson II 13
– Geisberg 13
– Winzinger 38
• Dimensions:
– Paper:approximately 3 x 2 in
• Verso:
– Partial failedimpression of The Death of the Virgin from the same series
– Pencilinscription
– Old tape andadhesive remnants
• Comparable Collection:
– FitzwilliamMuseum, Cambridge, holds another impression of The Flight into Egypt associatedwith the same early multi-block printing process and retaining evidence of afailed printing on the verso
• Framing: Unframed
• Condition: Good. Strong impression with minorcoloration, minor foxing, and light handling wear. Old tape and adhesiveremnants and pencil inscription on verso. Partial failed impression of anotherwoodblock from the series on verso. Please refer to the pictures for condition.
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Disclaimer:
I have conducted thorough research to ensure the accuracyand authenticity of this work to the best of my ability. However, it is sold asis, with no guarantees or warranties regarding its provenance or historicalattribution.
