Willibald Pirckheimer (1470-1530)

About this artwork

signature and date (): ‘Belibaldi MDXXIV AD’

Art Historical Context

This intimate portrait by Albrecht Dürer depicts Willibald Pirckheimer, the influential Nuremberg humanist, jurist, and close friend of the artist. Painted in oil on a small wooden panel measuring just 18 by 12 centimeters, the work captures the scholar’s dignified presence with remarkable precision. The panel bears Dürer’s monogram and the date 1524, confirming its creation during the artist’s mature period. Dürer, a leading figure of the Northern Renaissance, brought extraordinary observational skill to portraiture. Here, the compact format suggests a personal keepsake, likely intended for private contemplation rather than public display. The choice of oil on panel allowed for fine detail and luminous depth, techniques that helped elevate portrait painting in early sixteenth-century Europe. The inscription “Belibaldi MDXXIV AD” links the sitter’s name directly to the artist, underscoring the friendship between two of the most learned men of their age. Today housed in the Rijksmuseum, the painting remains a compelling testament to Renaissance ideals of intellect, loyalty, and artistic excellence.

About the Artist

Albrecht Dürer · 1471–1528

Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) stands as the preeminent figure of the Northern Renaissance and arguably the most influential artist in the history of printmaking. Born in Nuremberg on May 21, 1471, and dying in the same city on April 6, 1528, Dürer revolutionized the status of the artist in Northern Europe, transforming printmaking from a commercial craft into an independent fine art and establishing ...