132 Conrad Gesner (1516–1565), after Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) – The Rhinoceros – Woodcut Engraving (1560, after 1515)
This iconic woodcut engraving of a rhinoceros, originally created by Albrecht Dürer in 1515, is faithfully reproduced here in Icones Animalium by Swiss naturalist Conrad Gesner. The image shows the famed Indian rhinoceros gifted by a Sultan to King Manuel I of Portugal, which arrived in Lisbon in May 1515. Dürer never saw the animal himself but based his woodcut on written descriptions and a sketch. The creature is depicted with an armored hide, textured legs, and a secondary horn on its back—details more imaginative than accurate, yet immensely influential. The rhinoceros was intended as a gift to Pope Leo X but tragically perished in a shipwreck en route. This engraving, published by Christoph Froschover in Zurich in 1560, continued to shape European perceptions of the species for centuries.
Conrad Gesner was a Swiss physician, naturalist, and bibliographer, widely considered the father of modern zoology. His Historiae Animalium was one of the first attempts to catalog the animal kingdom using both classical texts and direct observation. The inclusion of Dürer’s rhinoceros was a deliberate effort to validate ancient sources like Pliny the Elder, while also responding to Renaissance Europe's growing thirst for exotic knowledge brought through trade and exploration.
Artist or Maker:
Conrad Gesner, after Albrecht Dürer
Dimensions:
32 cm x 20 cm
Medium:
Woodcut Engraving
Date:
1560 (after original from 1515)
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 7,000 - 9,000 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 25% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 60 SEK |
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