Artwork
Circumcision of Jesus
Circumcision of Jesus is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
About this work
Overview
Circumcision of Jesus is a 1498 oil painting by Albrecht Dürer, a pivotal figure in the German Renaissance. This work exemplifies the detailed, religiously themed imagery characteristic of the Northern Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the biblical scene of Jesus' circumcision, a subject common in religious art of the time, symbolizing the fulfillment of Jewish law and the beginning of Jesus' life as a covenant with God.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work showcases Dürer's renowned technical proficiency, blending the meticulousness of Northern European art with the emerging influences of the Renaissance.
History & Provenance
Created in 1498, the painting is now part of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister collection, a renowned repository of Old Master paintings.
Context
As a product of the Northern Renaissance, the painting reflects the era's emphasis on detailed, emotionally charged religious scenes, contrasting with the more classical ideals of contemporaneous Italian Renaissance art.
Legacy
While specific influence of *Circumcision of Jesus* is not broadly highlighted in available sources, Dürer's overall body of work significantly impacted European art, bridging printmaking and painting techniques across the continent.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
