Artwork
Coat of Arms with a Lion and a Cock
Coat of Arms with a Lion and a Cock is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1502 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s 1502 engraving titled *Coat of Arms with a Lion and a Cock* presents a compact heraldic composition on laid paper. The work measures a modest size and is part of the print collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its subject matter combines two traditional symbols—a lion and a rooster—arranged around a simple shield.
Subject & Meaning
The central shield bears three aligned dots, a minimalist charge that may reference a specific family or civic emblem. Supporting the shield, a lion stands beneath, its posture suggesting strength and guardianship, while a rooster perches above, a common emblem of vigilance and dawn. Together, the animals frame the heraldic device, creating a balanced allegory of power and watchfulness.
Technique & Style
Decorative vines and scrolls form an ornamental border, their flowing contours contrasting with the crisp, geometric precision of the central motifs.
Executed with the fine incising characteristic of Dürer’s early prints, the engraving displays sharply defined lines that render the lion’s fur and the rooster’s plumage with meticulous detail. Decorative vines and scrolls form an ornamental border, their flowing contours contrasting with the crisp, geometric precision of the central motifs. The use of laid paper adds a subtle texture that enhances the overall visual depth.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 16th century, the print reflects Dürer’s engagement with heraldic commissions and his mastery of metalcut techniques. It entered the National Gallery of Art’s collection through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, where it remains on display as an example of the artist’s work in graphic media and his contribution to the development of Northern Renaissance printmaking.
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)
