Description
Albrecht Altdorfer-The Dispute in the Temple-Early 16th GermanWoodcut-LUGT 2749
An original early 16th-century woodcut by GermanRenaissance master Albrecht Altdorfer (ca. 1480–1538), titled The Dispute inthe Temple, from his forty-print series The Fall and Salvation of MankindThrough the Life and Passion of Christ. Created circa 1513, the miniaturecomposition depicts the young Christ among the doctors in the Temple,surrounded by scholars within a densely rendered architectural interior.Altdorfer’s AA monogram appears in the upper left.
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 series consisted of forty smallwoodcuts, originally arranged eight impressions to a sheet on five sheets. Thisearly format predates the later single-impression printings and thesubstantially later 1604 Froben edition of Icones Sacrae. Despite its diminutivescale, the present impression retains strong blacks and remarkably dense detailin the architectural setting and figures.
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, intricate compositions.
This impression has distinguished early collectingprovenance. It bears the collector’s mark of Hans Freiherr von und zu Aufsess(1801–1872), Lugt 2749, the antiquarian and collector who founded theGermanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg and served as its first director. Hiscollection of works on paper formed an important early component of themuseum’s holdings. The verso also bears the mark of Georg Hamminger, Lugt 1159,a Regensburg collector of prints and drawings whose substantial collection wasdispersed in Munich in 1895. His sale comprised more than two thousand printsand was particularly rich in German masters.
The work is catalogued as New Hollstein W.14, Bartsch 14,The Illustrated Bartsch 14, Hollstein 14, and Winzinger 39. Impressions of thissubject are held in major institutional collections including the NationalGallery of Art, Washington, D.C., and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The print is in poor condition but retains a strongimpression. There is minor damage at the lower left corner and several lossesand damages along the upper edge. The sheet shows coloration, foxing, surfacesoiling, and general age-related wear. Old tape and mounting remnants arepresent on the verso, together with numerous historic collector inscriptionsand inventory notations. Collector’s marks of Hans Freiherr von und zu Aufsessand Georg Hamminger are present on the verso. Unframed. Please refer to thepictures for condition.
Details:
• Artist: Albrecht Altdorfer (ca. 1480–1538)
• Title: The Dispute in the Temple
• Series: The Fall and Salvation of Mankind Through theLife and Passion of Christ
• Date: ca. 1513
• Medium: Woodcut on paper
• Catalogue Raisonné:
– New HollsteinW.14
– Bartsch 14
– TheIllustrated Bartsch 14
– Hollstein 14
– Winzinger 39
• Provenance:
– Hans Freiherrvon und zu Aufsess (1801–1872), Lugt 2749
– GeorgHamminger (d. ca. 1895), Regensburg, Lugt 1159
– RipleyAuctions, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Dimensions:
– Paper: 3 x 2in
• Inscriptions: Historic collector, biographical, andinventory inscriptions on verso, including a dated inscription of October 30,1930
• Framing: Unframed
• Condition: Poor, with a strong impression; minor damageat lower left corner, several losses and damages along upper edge, coloration,foxing, surface soiling and general age-related wear, tape and mountingremnants on verso, and numerous historic collector inscriptions and marks onverso. 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.
