Albrecht Durer Engraving Help

How common would this engraving be? as I have yet to see one with his monogram on it.. Sheet measures 7-7/8H x 6-1/8W, image 4-1/8H x 3-1/4W, framed 8-1/4H x 6-1/2W. I sent it to Swans Auction and they said it was a recent reproduction which I don't agree with that, it is an engraving as the plate mark can be clearly seen in the pictures. and the size correspond with some of his work. Any opinion or help on what to do with it will be greatly appreciated. Currently I have it on ebay at 7500, just in case.....

 

Because of the invention of the printing press, Dürer's work has been mass produced since it was created.

https://www.thecollector.com/how-albrecht-durer-changed-printmaking-renaissance/

Debora

 

The paper is no way 500 years old! 1948 writing on the back makes me think it was made shortly prior to that date.
IMHO
Mikey

 

If that's the case show me one copy of it that has his monogram on it like the one that is on the one that I have, I'd really appreciate it, thx..

 

It was given as a Christmas gift in '48. Used my phone translator and googled the hell out the translation which is where I came to Frisian which is a west Germanic language. I guess just the frame is going on 100 years so, yes, I think its that old. They sure must have loved aunt Martha.

 

In the early 16th century, Albrecht Dürer created the pen and ink drawing we know of as Praying Hands, or Betende Hände in German. The drawing is on blue paper that Dürer made himself.

As far as I can see, for Durer this was a study for a detail in a larger work, not a finished work itself, and he did not sign it or replicate it.

 

https://www.thehistoryofart.org/albrecht-durer/praying-hands/

 

As this image has been very popular, and reproduced in many forms since the original drawing, the type of paper yours is printed on will be an important indicator of its age. Your engraving seems to be printed on "wove" paper - a type of paper first made in the 18th century, and which continues to be made today. Prior to that time, an engraving would be on "laid" paper.

This article explains the history and characteristics of different types of paper:
https://harvardartmuseums.org/artic...ctures-watermarks-and-a-conservator-s-passion

And this presents a catalog of the watermarks that appear on authenticated Durer prints:
https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/conservation/watermarks-durer/

Nothing would prevent a copy engraving from including Durer's monogram.

 

A beautiful but very common print. The Dürer Praying Hands print was found in just about every R. Catholic household in Western Europe at one time. My very pious grandmother also had one.

Googling the hell out the translation probably led to 1+1=3. The written text is not in Frisian but in High German, which is 'regular' German.

The original German text:
Albrecht Dürer. Betende Hände. Kupferstich 1508. Unserer lieben Tante Martha, Weihnachten 1948. Von Hanna und Willi.

Frisian translation:
Albrecht Dürer. Biddende hannen. Kopergravure 1508. Oan ús leave muoike Martha, Kryst 1948. Fan Hanna en Willi.
(I hope you can see the difference)

English translation:
Albrecht Dürer. Praying hands. Copper engraving 1508. To our dear Aunt Martha, Christmas 1948. From Hanna and Willi.

 

I don't know that he ever did it as an engraving, though others may have. It is certainly one of his currently best known drawings, and has been reproduced endlessly.

Yours does not look like an engraving to me.

It's surprising to me that I'm not finding any antique engravings of this at all.

It's possible that it's celebrity is modern. Previous to the 20th C, this probably was seen only as a study, and not acceptable as a complete image.

 

I don't know either, but he did do copper engraving. His father was a goldsmith, and he was taught to do fine metalwork before he went on to train as a painter etc.

 

He did magnificent engravings (wood and copper), but I don't know that he did this as an engraving.

He did other studies as well: Young Hare (1502) is signed, but Great piece of Turf (1503) is not. His choice. I don't know that either of those was done as an engraving by him, but they are both very well-known and often reproduced images.

 

The size also corresponds to a common book format. I am wondering if it might have originally been included as a plate in a book about Durer, or any religious subject. Book illustrations are sometimes dressed up with faux plate marks. In other words, the image may or may not be an actual engraving.

A catalogue raisonne (complete list) of Durer's prints does not show it among his works.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_Dürer_catalogue_raisonné,_1972_Strauss

According to this wikipedia article, "The first public recognition of the artwork was in 1871 when it was exhibited in Vienna" -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayi...18 sketches,brother, one of eighteen siblings.

So, all of the popular reproductions of this drawing would date after that exhibition.

 

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That's why I direct my inquiries here. Knowledgeable and very helpful, all around.

 

This is the closest I could find
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1858159427...zlbu8c3Qie&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

Pretty close, but, nowhere near. Thx.

 

That is a contradiction.

 

yes agree!