Engraved copies of The Little Passion

Art Historical Context

Visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department will encounter *Engraved copies of Little Passion*, a series reproduced by Dutch engraver Abraham Waberge after the renowned German artist Albrecht Dürer Dated undated (n.d.), these small engravings—measuring about 5 x 3 13/16 inches (12.7 x 9.7 cm) per plate—capture Dürer's 1509 woodcut series depicting key scenes from the Life of Christ, the Passion. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1947, they exemplify the enduring appeal of Dürer's Northern Renaissance mastery. Waesberge's engravings translate Dürer's intricate compositions into a finer medium, where the burin allows for delicate lines and textures impossible in woodcuts. This technique not only preserved Dürer's dramatic narratives—featuring Christ, men, and animals in biblical moments like the Entry into Jerusalem—but also made them more accessible for devotional use in 17th-century Europe. Copies like these fueled the widespread dissemination of Renaissance imagery, bridging elite art with popular piety. Culturally, the series underscores Christianity's visual storytelling during the Reformation era, blending humanism and faith. Dürer's influence shines through in the expressive figures and symbolic details, inviting reflection on sacrifice and redemption in an intimate format perfect for personal meditation.

About the Artist

Abraham Waesberge|Albrecht Dürer (German|Dutch) · 1471 | –1528 |

German, Nuremberg 1471–1528 Nuremberg|Dutch