Artwork
Coat of Arms of Scheurl and Tucher Families
Coat of Arms of Scheurl and Tucher Families is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Wolf Traut. It dates from 1512 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Coat of Arms of Scheurl and Tucher Families is a 1512 woodcut by Wolf Traut, combining intricate imagery with letterpress text on laid paper to represent the union or alliance of two families.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two men, symbolizing the Scheurl and Tucher families, surrounded by a bull, lion, deer, and a tree laden with vines and animals. These elements likely signify the families' heraldic symbols, virtues, or ancestral heritage.
Technique & Style
Executed in woodcut, a technique prevalent before photography, the work features bold, carved designs on wood blocks. The incorporation of letterpress text and the dense, twisting background patterns reflect the artistic and printing capabilities of the early 16th century.
History & Provenance
Created in 1512 by Wolf Traut, specific details about the work's commission, original context, or subsequent ownership history are not provided in available information.
Context
This woodcut embodies the Renaissance practice of using heraldic imagery to convey family lineage and values. The choice of a woodcut, a widely accessible print medium, suggests the families' desire for broader dissemination of their unified emblem.
Legacy
While the work's direct influence on later art is unspecified, it contributes to the historical record of 16th-century printmaking and the visual representation of family alliances during the Renaissance.
Artist & collection
