Fil:ADurerFredericktheWise1524.jpg

(b, 1 471  Nürnberg  d, 1 528  Nürnberg)

Portrait of Frederick the Wise 1 524 Engraving  188 x 122 mm Art Institute  Chicago

Frederick III  called the Wise  Elector of the Empire and Duke of Saxony (1 463-1 525)  was a patron of art and science  the founder of the University of Wittenberg and a supporter of the Reformation  although he never openly espoused the doctrines of Martin Luther, He could easily have been elected Emperor but wisely declined the honour, One of the earliest patrons of Dürer  he commissioned a portrait (in 1 496) and many other works, The inscription beneath this engraved portrait reads: "Sacred to Christ, He favoured the word of God with piety  worthy to be revered by posterity forever, Albrecht Dürer made this for the Duke Frederick of Saxony  Arch-Marshal  Elector of the Holy Roman Empire; B[ene] M[erenti] F[ecit] V[ivus] V[ivo]  MDXXIIII," (The phrase connotes: "worthy of high praise even while still alive,")

The engraving is based on a preparatory drawing  probably prepared during Frederick's stay at Nuremberg from November 1 522 to February 1 523, It could be pointed out that Dürer must have had a remarkable memory in order to add so much form and detail in the engraving that does not appear in the sketch from life  particularly the details of the eyes  the higher eyebrows and the revision of the cap, The portrait shows the fat but somehow tragic face of Frederick the Wise  one year before his death  in three-quarter profile  in contrast to the strict profile of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg,

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Author: DÜRER  Albrecht Title: Portrait of Frederick the Wise Time-line: 1 501-1 550 School: German Form: graphics