The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 26, 2024

Knight, Death, and the Devil

Knight, Death, and the Devil

1513
(German, 1471–1528)
Germany, 16th century
engraving
Sheet: 24.4 x 19 cm (9 5/8 x 7 1/2 in.)
Elisabeth Severance Prentiss and Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Collections by exchange 1965.231
Catalogue raisonné: Meder 1932, 74a/g
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The personification of Death in this image holds an hourglass whose sands are exactly half full, which may indicate a turning point in the rider's life choices.

Description

In this tour de force engraving, considered one of his three greatest “masterworks,” Albrecht Dürer portrayed a mounted soldier who resolutely forges through a dark gorge, ignoring a horned devil in his path. Confronted by Death itself, crowned with snakes and holding an hourglass indicating mortality, the soldier and his faithful dog demonstrate the strength of righteousness required to stay upon the right path. The skull underfoot suggests that others have not been
so resolute. Indeed, this road of life is full of obstacles, with the city on the hill accessible, it seems, only by way of treacherous peaks.
  • Prince of Liechtenstein, Feldsberg and Vienna, stamp (Lugt 4398), verso, lower left, in blue
  • "Peters, Emily J. "Love Gardens/Forbidden Fruit: Nature and landscape before 1600.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 63, no. 2 (2023): 12-13. Reproduced and Mentioned: P. 13.
    “Exhibitions through November 2023.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 63, no. 3 (2023): 10-11. Reproduced: P. 11; Mentioned: P. 10.
  • Love Gardens / Forbidden Fruit. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 2-October 29, 2023).
    The Novel and the Bizarre: Salvator Rosa's Scenes of Witchcraft. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 15-June 14, 2015).
    Arms and Armor from Imperial Austria. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 24-June 1, 2008).
    Albrecht Dürer and His Influence. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 16-March 10, 1991).
    Eight Masters of the Print. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (October 14, 1980-January 18, 1981).
    Durer. Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, OH (organizer) (April 6-May 8, 1971).
    Albrecht Dürer - 500th Anniversary. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 19-March 28, 1971).
    Old Master Prints and Drawings. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 29, 1966-February 28, 1967).
    Year in Review: 1965. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 27-November 14, 1965).
  • {{cite web|title=Knight, Death, and the Devil|url=false|author=Albrecht Dürer|year=1513|access-date=26 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1965.231