Artwork
Portrait of Oswolt Krel: Oswolt Krel
Portrait of Oswolt Krel: Oswolt Krel is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer created the oil portrait of Oswolt Krel in the year 1500. The work presents a seated gentleman with curled hair, a solemn gaze, and hands folded before him, dressed in a dark, fur‑trimmed jacket over a white shirt. A red wall bearing inscription forms the backdrop, while a modest landscape with trees and water appears at left.
Subject & Meaning
Oswolt Krel, a member of Dürer’s professional and social network, is rendered with a dignified bearing that reflects the humanist interest in individual character. The careful rendering of his attire and posture suggests a status of wealth or prominence, while the composed expression conveys a sense of personal gravitas typical of portraiture in the early sixteenth century.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on panel, the painting demonstrates Dürer’s Northern Renaissance approach, emphasizing fine detail and naturalistic texture. The artist’s handling of light on the fur trim, the subtle modeling of facial features, and the precise rendering of the background elements illustrate his skill in achieving realism through layered glazing and meticulous brushwork.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the portrait has been part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich. The museum acquired the work as part of its extensive holdings of German Renaissance art, where it remains displayed among other pieces that document Dürer’s evolution from printmaker to painter.
Context
Created at a time when Dürer was expanding beyond woodcuts into oil painting, the portrait reflects the broader artistic shift toward individualized representation in the German lands. It aligns with contemporary humanist ideals that valued personal achievement and the accurate depiction of social rank within a realistic visual language.
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)
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