Artwork

The Triumphal Chariot of Maximilian I (The Great Triumphal Car) [plate 7 of 8]

The Triumphal Chariot of Maximilian I (The Great Triumphal Car) [plate 7 of 8] is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1523 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Tiny figures wave from every level—musicians, soldiers, even a guy holding a giant key.

Albrecht Dürer carved this huge woodcut in 1513. It shows a wildly detailed chariot pulled by eight horses. The horses’ muscles ripple under sheet metal armor. Tiny figures wave from every level—musicians, soldiers, even a guy holding a giant key.

Dürer made this for Emperor Maximilian I. The emperor never rode it—he died before prints came out. But Dürer kept the dream alive: a fantasy parade of power and math and myth.

Look up Dürer, Albrecht next—he turned prints into high art.

Overview

The Triumphal Chariot of Maximilian I is a large woodcut print created by Albrecht Dürer.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a fantastical chariot drawn by eight horses adorned with sheet metal armor, accompanied by numerous figures including musicians and soldiers, symbolizing power and grandeur.

Technique & Style

Carved in 1513, the woodcut showcases Dürer's exceptional skill in rendering intricate details, evident in the horses' rippling muscles and the elaborate decoration of the chariot.

History & Provenance

Commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I, the print was part of a larger project; it was published after the emperor's death in 1519, with the final prints being produced in 1523.