Artwork
Three Genii
Three Genii is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1505 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Three Genii is a black-and-white engraving on laid paper by Albrecht Dürer, dated to around 1505. The work is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts three winged figures on a grassy area. The left figure holds a trumpet and staff, the right plays a harp-like stringed instrument, and the central, rear figure, distinguished by curly hair and a relaxed pose, bears no instrument.
Technique & Style
Dürer employed fine, detailed linework to achieve shading and texture, imparting a three-dimensional appearance to the figures. This level of intricacy is characteristic of engravings, where designs are carved into metal plates.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1505, the engraving is currently housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Context
As an engraving, Three Genii reflects Dürer's mastery of a medium that allowed for widespread dissemination of images during the Renaissance.
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)
