Albrecht Dürer’s material world

Often described as the centre of the German Renaissance, Nuremberg was both an economic and cultural centre during the 15th century. Its location in the heart of Europe ensured that it was at the centre of many trade networks, which resulted in a steady flow of everyday wares, luxury goods and printed books. This inflow of objects is evident in prints by Albrecht Dürer in which he painstakingly documents the world around him. The first exhibition of the Whitworth’s Dürer collection in 50 years presents three themed spaces – the home, the workshop, and the scholar’s study – to explore the artist’s attentive study of this material world (30 June–10 March 2024). Alongside the prints are items including tableware, books, scientific instruments and textiles, which Dürer so often depicted in his work. Highlights include a pair of 15th-century scissors that would have been used during the print-making process, and Dürer’s highly detailed works such as The Four Horsemen (1498) and Saint Anthony Before the Town (1519). Find out more Whitworth’s website.

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Saint Anthony Before the Town (1519), Albrecht Dürer. Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. Photo: Michael Pollard

The Sea Monster (c. 1498–1501), Albrecht Dürer. Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. Photo: Michael Pollard

The Mass of Saint Gregory (1511), Albrecht Dürer. Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. Photo: Michael Pollard