Holbein, Durer and Beyond

‘Holbein, Durer and Beyond’ is a selection of sketches by German Artists dating from late 15th to 17th century taken from the holdings at Christ Church Picture Gallery. The quality of the prints offers tantalising fragments of the genius behind the work going on north of the Alps during this period. The slight variation in medium used by the draughtsmen in preparing their drawings achieves a vastly different effect. Hans Holbein, the Elder’s ‘Studies of heads and hands’ has a soft, contemplative feel by applying silverpoint on grey prepared paper whereas the strident hunger of ‘A stag hunt’ is garnered from heavy use of black-brown pen and ink, heightened with white by Augustin Hirschvogel. In all cases the rustic, native identity of the Artists’ homeland is ever present particularly in Durer’s forest scenes with turreted castles typically placed behind dense wooded forests.

The explosion of early Renaissance values of accentuating beauty is most evident in Durer’s work. Detail is given to the soft folding fabrics of flowing gowns in a Mannerist fashion in Durer’s ‘Madonna with the swaddled child’. The ability of Durer to fill a small screen with pure narrative is observed in ‘The Fall of Man’. Above eye level a serpent winds around a tree trunk testing Eve with an apple. In the undergrowth gnarly vertebrates poke their heads through shrubs. Durer’s style is equally representative when applied to trees, beasts or holy icons. The subject matter is given equal integrity whether it is a portrait for example of Frederick the Wise (as seen in this exhibition) or the plant life the Artist is also known to depict in meticulously detail. Personality is given to human form in a similar way it is to wildlife. The rhythm of the tree foliage conveys the spirit of the moment as does the heavy aged musculature of the ‘Witch riding backwards on a goat’. Agostino Veneziano’s ‘The procession to a “witches sabbath”’ is an engraving following a similar theme, a lithe, athletic yet aged witch is whipping up her followers and urging them forward. Take a stroll to this array of preserved pages of fine art and inhale the evergreen talents of Durer, Holbein and their followers. Georg Pencz’ ‘Design for an illusionist ceiling, showing workmen building an upper storey’ is so modern, minimalist and quirky; its warm blast of early sixteenth century humour is worth the £2 admission alone.

Lita Doolan (DI Reviewer), 31/01/08

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