St. Anthony Reading
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1960-177-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Albrecht Dürer’s *St. Anthony Reading* (1519) captures a moment of quiet contemplation by one of the most influential artists of the Northern Renaissance. Born in Nuremberg in 1471, Dürer was celebrated for his extraordinary skill in printmaking, drawing, and painting, often blending precise observation with spiritual depth. This work depicts the early Christian hermit saint absorbed in study, a subject that resonated during the early Reformation when personal faith and scripture gained renewed emphasis. Created just nine years before Dürer’s death, the piece reflects his mature interest in i...