Who painted The Four Angels Holding the Winds?

The Four Angels Holding the Winds was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1498.

Where can I see The Four Angels Holding the Winds?

The Four Angels Holding the Winds is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Four Angels Holding the Winds?

The Four Angels Holding the Winds is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

The Four Angels Holding the Winds

Albrecht Dürer , 1498

The Four Angels Holding the Winds is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This woodcut on laid paper, titled The Four Angels Holding the Winds, is a print by Albrecht Dürer.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts four angels restraining the elements: one holds back the sun, another the moon, and two pinch the clouds to halt the rain. The angels, with wild hair and long robes billowing like sails, blow trumpets from the corners of the sky.

Technique & Style

Carved from wood, the print showcases Dürer's skill in translating a biblical scene into a detailed image. The dynamic depiction of the angels contrasts with the more subdued representations found in other artists' works, such as Rembrandt's etchings.

Context

The Four Angels Holding the Winds is part of Dürer's Apocalypse series, demonstrating how artists could create prints of biblical stories for a broad audience beyond the wealthy or clergy.