Lower Portion of the Entryway to the Right Portal (Die Porten des Adels); and the Outer Right Sockel of the Central Portal, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18

Art Historical Context

This intricate woodcut, titled *Lower Portion of the Entry to the Right Portal ( Porten des Adels); and the Outer Right Sock of the Central Portal, the Arch of Honor*, is a proof dated 1515 and printed around 1517–18. Designed primarily by Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer with woodblocks cut by skilled collaborators Hieronymus Andreae, Springinklee, and Wolf Traut, it measures an impressive 18 /16 × 25 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this fragment captures the grandeur of Dürer's visionary project. The print forms part of Dürer's monumental *Triumphal Arch* (or *Arch of Honor*), commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I as a paper monument to immortalize his legacy. Comprising 192 individual blocks that could be assembled into a 10-foot-high structure, it exemplifies early 16th-century Northern Renaissance propaganda art—blending heraldry, allegory, and historical scenes to celebrate imperial power. This proof showcases detailed architectural elements like noble portals and socles, rendered with extraordinary precision. Dürer's woodcut technique shines here: fine lines and textures mimic stone carving, pushing the medium's limits for monumental scale. As a rare proof, it offers a glimpse into the collaborative printing process, highlighting how these prints democratized elite art, adorning homes across Europe during Maximilian's era. A testament to technical innovation and cultural ambition!

About the Artist

Hieronymus Andreae|Hans Springinklee|Wolf Traut|Albrecht Dürer (German|German) · 1525 |1495 –1556 |1530

German, Bad Mergentheim ca. 1485–1556 Nuremberg|German, ca. 1495–after 1522