Who painted View of Nuremberg from the East [left section]?

View of Nuremberg from the East [left section] was painted by Hanns Lautensack in 1552.

Where can I see View of Nuremberg from the East [left section]?

View of Nuremberg from the East [left section] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is View of Nuremberg from the East [left section]?

View of Nuremberg from the East [left section] is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

View of Nuremberg from the East [left section]

Hanns Lautensack , 1552

View of Nuremberg from the East [left section] is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hanns Lautensack. It dates from 1552 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1552, this etching presents an aerial view of Nuremberg as seen from the east.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1552, this etching presents an aerial view of Nuremberg as seen from the east. The print captures the city’s skyline framed by a dense forest, with towers, spires, castle walls and river bridges rendered in precise linear detail.

Subject & Meaning

The composition functions as a topographical record, emphasizing the orderly arrangement of Nuremberg’s architecture and fortifications. By situating the urban core behind a natural foreground, the work highlights the relationship between the city’s built environment and its surrounding landscape.

Technique & Style

Lautensack employed a copper plate etched with a drypoint needle, allowing him to incise fine lines for intricate rooftops, trees and masonry. The resulting crisp, high‑contrast lines recall the meticulous cityscapes of Albrecht Dürer, reflecting mid‑16th‑century German printmaking practices.

History & Provenance

Hanns Lautensack, born in Bamberg in 1524 and raised in Nuremberg, produced this piece while active in his hometown before relocating to Vienna around 1556. The etching bears his monogram, a common identifier for his prints, and is now held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Context

The work belongs to the cityscape genre that flourished in northern Europe during the Renaissance, a period when artists increasingly documented urban growth and civic pride. Lautensack’s detailed perspective aligns with contemporary interests in cartography and the visual representation of municipal power.