Albrecht Altdorfer’s woodcut, “The Sacrifice of Isaac”, c1523

Albrecht Altdorfer (1482/5–1538)

“The Sacrifice of Isaac” (aka “Le Sacrifice d’Abraham”; “Het offer van Abraham”), c1520–25, from the later Baron Hans Albrecht von Derschau edition (based on the stamp [verso] and the greyish paper on which this impression is printed [see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG178440]). Note that there is an initial Derschau edition printed between 1808 and 1816 and that further impressions were taken from the original block now in the Kupferstichkabinett (Berlin) between1922 and 1963. The Derschau stamp verso showing the date 1922 coincides with this later edition and the date of this impression.

Woodcut on laid paper with partial watermark.

Size: (sheet) 16.7 x 12.2 cm; (image borderline) 12.2 x 9.3 cm.

Artist’s monogram in block: (upper left corner) “[ligature initials] AA”.

TIB 14(6).41(76) (Robert A Koch 1980, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Early German Masters; Albercht Altdorfer; Monogrammists”, vol. 14, New York, Abaris Books, p. 147, cat. no. 41 [76]); New Hollstein w.41 (Ursula Mielke [comp.] 1997, “The New Hollstein German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts 1400-1700: Albrecht and Erhard Altdorfer”, Rotterdam, Sound and Vision Interactive, p. 113, cat. no. w.14).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “The sacrifice of Abraham; Isaac kneeling in front of a fire burning on an altar at left; Abraham seen from behind with the sword placed on his left shoulder; the angel intervening at upper left. Woodcut” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1895-0122-348). The Curator of the BM also offers the following interesting insight: “Altdorfer captures the dramatic tension of the story in his typical somewhat recondite way. Abraham is turned from the viewer whereas, normally, the impending sacrifice is shown facing the viewer” [op. cit.).

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.30769. (Note that there is a glitch in the referencing, as the cat. no. [w14] is incorrect in the documentation provided, but it is correct in the initial reference [w41].)

Condition: a strong impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling. The verso has the ink stamp of the Baron Hans Albrecht von Derschau—a banderole lettered, “Sammlung/ Derschau/ 1922” (Collection/ Derschau/ 1922)—pencil notations from previous collectors and remnants of mounting.

I am selling this magnificent late impression of a Renaissance period woodcut by one of the founders of landscape painting, Albrecht Altdorfer, for AU$368 (currently US$245.97/EUR222.55/GBP195.91 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing woodcut—note the extra fine lines rendering the shadows on Abraham’s back and, even more incredible, the cross hatching in the deepest tones (mindful that every mark is cut away from the wood so that it will stand proud in relief to become a black line)—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold