The Horseman

Unknown artist

In 1498 Dürer made a water-coloured pen drawing, which introduces a rider in armor. This (now Vienna, Albertina, Inv.-Nr. 3067), centrally dated and monogrammed at the bottom, bears the lettering “Dz ist dy rusting Zw der czeit | | Im tewtzschlant gewest.” Bartsch, who until his death in 1821 was the guest of the graphic collection of the Vienna Court Library, translated the drawing into the technique of copper engraving, supplemented by a landscape view by the Viennese artist Johann Christian Brand. With the integrated architecture, Brand was also oriented towards Dürer (cf. I C 27 of the State Library Bamberg). In 1786 Bartsch published the print together with other artistic replicas. With reference to the whereabouts of the template, Heller included the engraving of copper under the heading “Leaves made after Dürer’s paintings and drawings” in his 1827 published Dürer publication. In addition, the collector mentions test prints as well as prints with and without Brands landscape. (Cf. Heller Dürer 1827 II.887,2435)