Portrait of Dürer's Father at 70 [SEP] collection
Portrait of Dürer's Father at 70
Portrait of Dürer's Father at 70 (or The Painter's Father) is a 1497 oil on lime painting attributed to the German painter and printmaker Albrecht Dürer, now in the National Gallery, London. Along with the 1490 "Albrecht Dürer the Elder with a Rosary", it is the second of two portraits of the artist's Hungarian father Albrecht Dürer the Elder (1427–1502). The sitter's similarity to the earlier portrait, as well to a 1486 silverpoint drawing believed to
the assured self-confidence of a young artist at the height of his ability. Dürer's presence dominates the pictorial space, from his hat which almost reaches the top of the canvas to his arm positioned on the lower ledge, where he rests his fingers enclosed in fine rich gloves.
Until some time in the 19th century the painting was hung with and kept as a companion piece with "Portrait of Dürer's Father at 70"; in 1636 the two paintings were gifted as a pair to Charles I of England