Scene
The sitter’s head and shoulders fill almost the entire image against a dark, neutral ground. A Latin inscription across the upper right names him and records the date and his age.
Portrait of Hieronymus Holzschuher
Albrecht Dürer
1526
Figures
The portrait depicts Hieronymus Holzschuher, a prominent Nuremberg senator and member of the city’s ruling patriciate. He was a leading figure in the civic government and a patron of religious art.
Symbolism
The dark, simple clothing reflects elite fashion and emphasizes sobriety and civic virtue. The intense, reflective eyes suggest alertness and intelligence, while the near-monumental head gives the sitter an emblematic presence.
Craft
Dürer uses highly detailed, naturalistic oil painting on a fine-grained linden panel to render hair, skin, and fabric with precise realism.
Impact
The work is regarded as one of Dürer’s most important late portraits and a key example of Northern Renaissance portraiture. It is often cited for its fusion of empirical observation, psychological depth, and civic representation.
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