The Tomb Erected by Maximilian for His Father; and The Imperial Treasure; with Portraits of Maximilian's Ancestors and Relatives, from the Arch of Honor, proof, dated 1515, printed 1517-18

Art Historical Context

Step into the grandeur of the Holy Roman Empire with this monumental woodcut sheet from Albrecht Dürer's *Triumphal Arch* ( known as the *Arch of Honor*), colossal propaganda project commissioned by Emperor Maximilian. Dated 1515 with proofs printed around 1517-18, this proof impression captures "The Tomb Erected byilian for His Father; The Imperial Treasure; with Portraits of Maxim's Ancestors and Relatives." Measuring an impressive 18¼ × 24½ inches, it vividly illustrates Maximilian's filial piety, vast wealth, and noble lineage, forming one panel of a massive, assemblable print over 10 feet tall when complete—designed for public display to exalt the emperor's legacy. Crafted by a dream team of Northern Renaissance masters—Albrecht Dürer, Albrecht Altdorfer, Hieronymus Andreae, and Hans Springinklee—the image blends intricate woodcut illustrations with letterpress text. Woodcuts allowed for bold, detailed black-line work on a grand scale, a technique perfected in early 16th-century Germany for disseminating imperial glory far beyond palace walls. Dürer's precise designs, infused with Danube School naturalism from Altdorfer, showcase architectural fantasy, symbolic treasures, and lifelike portraits. Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1928), this rare proof offers a window into Renaissance printmaking's power as political theater. Maximilian's arch wasn't just art—it was a printed monument, distributed across Europe to cement his eternal fame.

About the Artist

Albrecht Altdorfer|Hieronymus Andreae|Albrecht Dürer|Hans Springinklee · 1475–1538

Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480–1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and draftsman who stands as one of the founders of landscape painting as an independent genre. Born in Regensburg or nearby Altdorf, he learned art from his father Ulrich, a painter and miniaturist. Altdorfer spent most of his life in Regensburg, becoming a citizen in 1505 and later serving as the city's official architect and a m...