The artwork titled “St. Anthony” is an engraving by the notable artist Albrecht Dürer, dated to 1519. This piece is an exemplary work from the Northern Renaissance movement and falls under the category of religious painting. Currently, the artwork is held in a private collection.
In the engraving, we can observe what appears to be a representation of St. Anthony seated in the foreground. He is depicted sitting in a contemplative pose, with his head resting in his hand while reading a book, conveying a sense of contemplation or intellectual engagement. His physical positioning and attire—which includes a notably large hat—indicate religious or ascetic devotion, characteristic of depictions of hermit saints.
Behind St. Anthony, there is a detailed and rigorously portrayed cityscape. The use of intricate line work to detail the architecture of the buildings and the textural differences between various environmental elements is prevalent. Notable is the cross atop a pole, serving either as a waypoint or a spiritual symbol within the context of the scene. The attention to detail in the structures suggests a time-consuming and meticulous process of creation, highlighting Dürer’s skill in engraving. The urban setting is rendered with great precision, suggesting a high degree of observational skill, and may reflect the complex social and religious contexts of the Northern Renaissance period. The overall composition of the artwork, with the solitary figure in the expansive setting, suggests themes of reflection, solitude, and perhaps the relationship between humanity and the divine.
