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A large hefty Rhinoceros at side view stands on the ground facing right with head lowered looking straight ahead.

Its body looks like a chiseled armored shell of various plates that follow the shape of its head, belly, shoulders, legs, and back. Various textures define the dimensionality and contour of the animal. The solid legs are covered in scale-like texture with hooved feet. The large horn above its nose abuts the drawn border line of the print, the mouth is closed. Background is minimal with only the suggestion of the ground it stands on. Text in upper right corner: 1515 / RHINOCERVS / AD

Identification and Creation

Object Number
G1141
People
Albrecht Dürer, German (Nuremberg 1471 - 1528 Nuremberg)
Title
Rhinoceros
Classification
Prints
Work Type
print
Date
1515
Places
Creation Place: Europe, Germany
Culture
German
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/274068

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Woodcut printed in black ink on white antique laid paper
Technique
Woodcut
Dimensions
block: 21.3 × 29.7 cm (8 3/8 × 11 11/16 in.)
sheet: 22.3 × 30 cm (8 3/4 × 11 13/16 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • watermark: Meder watermark 224
    note on old mat: eagle: eagle
  • inscription: at upper right, date, woodcut title and artists monogram printed in black ink: 1515 / RHINOCERVS /AD
  • inscription: in lower sheet margin, typographically printed in black ink: Men vintse te coope by Hendrick Hondius Plaetesnÿder in s'Gravenhage.
  • inscription: verso, various graphite inscriptions: No 74 / No 44005 / e/v / No 711[?] [underlined]
  • collector's mark: verso, purple stamp with accession number written in graphite: GRAY COLLECTION, / 1141 / HARVARD COLLEGE. [within an oval borderline (Lugt 4836)]

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Francis Calley Gray, bequest; to William Gray, his nephew, 1856, gift; to Harvard University, 1857

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

State
Meder 6th edition out of 8
Edition
6th
Standard Reference Number
Bartsch 136; Koehler 299; Meder 273

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of William Gray from the collection of Francis Calley Gray
Object Number
G1141
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
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Exhibition History

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu