The Middle Portion of the Genealogy of Maximilian, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Middle Portion of the of Maximilian*, a striking woodcut and letterpress print from 1515 (proof printed 1517–18), crafted by Hieronymus Andreae and Hansinklee. This monumental sheet, measuring nearly 2 by 2 feet, forms part of the emperor's grand *Arch of Honor*—a colossal propagandistic print project designed by Albrecht Dür and his circle to celebrate Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I's illustrious lineage. Commissioned as a paper triumph, the full *Arch* could expand to over 10 feet tall when assembled from dozens of blocks, rivaling stone arches in imperial Rome. This central genealogy section meticulously traces Maximilian's ancestry through intricate woodcut portraits and heraldic motifs, blending Renaissance precision with dynastic pride. Springinklee, a Dürer apprentice known for his fluid line work, and skilled cutter Andreae captured the era's fascination with genealogy as a tool for legitimacy. Printed on a heroic scale, the woodcut medium allowed for bold, reproducible details distributed across Europe, while letterpress added textual flourishes. As a rare proof from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1928), it offers a glimpse into the meticulous workshop process, underscoring early 16th-century innovations in printmaking that democratized imperial glory.

About the Artist

Hieronymus Andreae|Hans Springinklee (German|German) · 1525 |1495 –1556 |1530

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