Description:Having been inspired by the Bible's chapter, Revelations, in which depictions of angel soldiers descend from the heavens and reap havoc on the Earth below, Albrecht Dürer creates his own, forceful and dramatic version of the events to ensue. As one of his larger-format woodcuts, Dürer takes advantage of the plane of the sheet, taking up every inch with spectacular, lively scenes of angels who wield their swords with strength and fervor.
According to Strauss:
In contrast to the spacious and lofty upper half, the battle of the angels crowds the bottom of the sheet. The power of the angels is enhanced by their placement back to back, and the multitude comprising a third of mankind is emphasized by showing it curtailed and cut off by the border lines. Thus the placement of terror is exactly the reverse…here it occurs on the ground. (183)
Created before the Latin edition of 1511 this print a lifetime impression and monogrammed with Albrecht Dürer's signature stamp, 'AD' in the lower center. Sheet has full margins all around.
Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that I will enclose with the sale of the work) :
1. Boon, Karel G. & Robert W. Scheller. The Graphic Art of Albrecht Dürer, Hans Dürer, and The Dürer School, Amsterdam, 1971. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 170 on pg. 139.
2. Holzschnitte & Holzschnittfolgen. Albrecht Dürer - Das Druckgraphische Werk, Band I, New York, 2002. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 119 on pgs. 87-9.
3. Kurth, Willi. The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Dürer, Dover Publications, Inc.: New York, 1963. Listed and illustrated as plate no. 113 and detailed on pgs. 20-1.
4. Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog, Vienna, 1932. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 171 on pg. 155-6.
5. Pawlak, Manfred, et. al. Albrecht Dürer, 1471 bis 1528. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 1506-7 with detail on the Apocalypse series on pgs. 1488-9.
6. Strauss, Walter L., ed. Albrecht Dürer - Woodcuts and Woodblocks, New York, 1980. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 49 on pgs. 183-5.
About the Framing:
Framed in museum-quality, archival materials, this work are set in a Spanish style bronze and gold-leaf frame. The muted tones of the moulding compliment the black, outer frame and also highlight the tones and textures of the highly detailed etching. Four Avenging Angels of Euphrates is completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet and finished behind an archival Plexiglas® cover.
