Sudarium Displayed by Two Angels

1513

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Sudarium Displayed by Two Angels is a 1513 by Albrecht Dürer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Dürer
When & what style?: 1513 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This etching shows three figures in a tight group. The center figure is an older man with a long beard, wearing a crown and holding a cloth. Two winged angels stand on either side of him, dressed in flowing robes and looking down at the cloth. The background is plain, focusing all attention on the faces and the fabric. The cloth the man holds is a key detail—it’s likely a burial shroud, wrapped carefully. The angels’ serious expressions and the crown suggest this scene has deep meaning, possibly tied to faith or death. Next, look up Albrecht Dürer to see how he used similar details in other works.