Albrecht Dürer’s engraving, “The Virgin and Child with a Monkey”, c1498

Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)

“The Virgin and Child with a Monkey”, c1498, a 19^th century impression from the original plate.

Engraving (19^th century impression) on buff wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 21.3 x 15.4 cm; (plate) 18.9 x 12.3 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s monogram at lower centre: “AD”.

State i (of i) Late impression.

TIB 1001.042 (Walter L. Strauss [ed.] 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Sixteenth Century German Artists: Albrecht Dürer”, vol. 10 [Commentary], New York, Abaris Books, pp.99–102, cat. no. [1001].042 [B.42(60)]); Meder 30 (Joseph Meder 1932, “Dürer-Katalog: Ein Handbuch über Albrecht Dürers Stiche, Radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren Zustände, Ausgaben und Wasserzeichen”, Vienna, cat. no. 30); Hollstein 30 (F.W.H Hollstein 1954–, “German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, c1400–1700”, vol. VII, Amsterdam, M. Hertzberger, cat. no. 30); Schoch, Mende, and Scherbaum 20 (Rainer Schoch, Matthias Mende, Anna Scherbaum 2001–04, “Albrecht Dürer, Das druckgraphische Werk”, vol. 1, Munich, Prestel cat. no. 20).

The Cleveland Museum of Art offers the following insightful description of this print: “Like his earliest engraving of the subject, Dürer portrayed the Madonna and Child within an enclosed garden. In addition to the garden, which refers to Mary’s virginity, the artist included other elements that reference each figure’s religious significance. The bird held by the Christ Child represents the souls that will be saved by his sacrifice while the chained monkey, a symbol of lust and greed, is tamed under the Madonna’s influence, thus reinforcing her purity and virtue. Done only a few years later than his Holy Family with Butterfly, the difference in the sculptural modelling of the figures and the skilful handling of the background show Dürer’s quick development as an engraver as well as the impact of his first visit to Italy in 1495-96” (https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1964.29).

See also descriptions of this print offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art; British Museum and Rijksmuseum: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/391053; https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_E-4-68; http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.33142.

Condition: a strong (late) impression showing very little wear to the printing plate with small margins. The sheet is in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this original impression of one of Albrecht Dürer’s most famous engravings—note that it is not one of the fifteen copies made after Dürer’s design (see TIB101.042 C1–C15, vol 10 [Com.] pp.99–102)—taken from Dürer’s original plate in the 19^th century, for the total cost of AU$3000 (currently US$2038.46/EUR1935.72/GBP1657.80 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this exceptionally rare masterwork of engraving, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.