DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52444#0128
CATALOGUE OF DURER’S ENGRAVINGS,
38 THE LITTLE HORSE.— B 96; H 1000; R 85; M 40.—
Monogram on a stone; date, 1505, in the sky.
a. Fine impression, black ink, generally speaking clean wiped, although
the shadows are here and there a trifle too full. Very slight duplication
of lines in lowest part. Watermark, bull’s head, Hausmann, No. I.
b. Reversed copy, apparently Heller’s No. 1005.
The impressions in the Paris, London, Dresden, and Berlin cabinets are all
printed in black ink, clean wiped. Only the one in London shows some tinting
on the under side of the arch.
This and the following engraving, as well as the“ St. Eustace ” (No. 32), which
see, and the “ St. George on Horseback” (No. 42), are probably the outcome of
Diirer’s studies of the horse, on the proportions of which he intended to write a
book, and the pseudo-mythological and other adjuncts may have been thrown
in to make the subjects palatable to the educated public of the time, which was
always ready for something either “ antique ” or “ saintly.” Heller and Retberg
suggest that the man leading the animal may be Perseus. Thausing substitutes
Mercury, and discusses the difficulties which stand in the way (I, p. 314). Sprin-
ger (“ Diirer,” p. 57) also suggests Mercury and Pegasus.
39 THE GREAT HORSE.—B 97; H 1009; R 84; M 41.—
Monogram in lower right corner; date, 1505, in the
SKY.
a. Very brilliant impression. Black ink, practically clean wiped, only
the darkest shadows somewhat full. On white paper, with the water-
mark of the large bull’s head, Hausmann, No. I.
b. Similar impression, on paper of a fine warm tone. From the col-
lection of the Earl of Aylesford.
The impression in Paris is a brilliant black one, clean wiped. The one in Lon-
don is only good, practically clean wiped, with some smudging on the forelegs
of the horse and the boot on the left leg of the soldier. Dresden has a fine,
rather delicate impression, absolutely clean wiped, Berlin also a very fine clean-
wiped one, in warmish black ink. A very fine, black, clean-wiped impression
is in the Gray Collection, Boston.
44
38 THE LITTLE HORSE.— B 96; H 1000; R 85; M 40.—
Monogram on a stone; date, 1505, in the sky.
a. Fine impression, black ink, generally speaking clean wiped, although
the shadows are here and there a trifle too full. Very slight duplication
of lines in lowest part. Watermark, bull’s head, Hausmann, No. I.
b. Reversed copy, apparently Heller’s No. 1005.
The impressions in the Paris, London, Dresden, and Berlin cabinets are all
printed in black ink, clean wiped. Only the one in London shows some tinting
on the under side of the arch.
This and the following engraving, as well as the“ St. Eustace ” (No. 32), which
see, and the “ St. George on Horseback” (No. 42), are probably the outcome of
Diirer’s studies of the horse, on the proportions of which he intended to write a
book, and the pseudo-mythological and other adjuncts may have been thrown
in to make the subjects palatable to the educated public of the time, which was
always ready for something either “ antique ” or “ saintly.” Heller and Retberg
suggest that the man leading the animal may be Perseus. Thausing substitutes
Mercury, and discusses the difficulties which stand in the way (I, p. 314). Sprin-
ger (“ Diirer,” p. 57) also suggests Mercury and Pegasus.
39 THE GREAT HORSE.—B 97; H 1009; R 84; M 41.—
Monogram in lower right corner; date, 1505, in the
SKY.
a. Very brilliant impression. Black ink, practically clean wiped, only
the darkest shadows somewhat full. On white paper, with the water-
mark of the large bull’s head, Hausmann, No. I.
b. Similar impression, on paper of a fine warm tone. From the col-
lection of the Earl of Aylesford.
The impression in Paris is a brilliant black one, clean wiped. The one in Lon-
don is only good, practically clean wiped, with some smudging on the forelegs
of the horse and the boot on the left leg of the soldier. Dresden has a fine,
rather delicate impression, absolutely clean wiped, Berlin also a very fine clean-
wiped one, in warmish black ink. A very fine, black, clean-wiped impression
is in the Gray Collection, Boston.
44