The Imperial Eagle
1507
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Hans Burgkmair the Elder
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German artist, born in Augsburg.
See the richer artist page1507
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Imperial Eagle is a 1507 ink by Hans Burgkmair the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a giant eagle with spread wings, surrounded by round shields and strange symbols. At its center, tiny figures climb a tower. The eagle’s feathers hold coats of arms, and Latin words fill the space. The whole thing looks like a puzzle of power and symbols. Notice the small portrait in the bottom right corner—it’s the artist’s face. The print mixes real crests with made-up ones, like a game of guessing who’s important. Look up woodcut to see how artists carved these detailed images before photography.
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German artist, born in Augsburg.
See the richer artist page
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