1497
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Allegory of the Eagle and Emperor Maximilian I is a 1497 ink by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows three tall, ornate frames with detailed carvings and Latin text. The center frame has a large eagle perched on a rock, its wings spread wide. The eagle’s head is turned to the side, and it holds something in its talons. The frames on the left and right are empty but filled with swirling patterns and more Latin words. The eagle is a symbol tied to power and leadership, often linked to emperors. This piece was made as a woodcut, which means it was carved into wood and printed, a common method in the 1400s. Look up technique: woodcut to see how this process works.
This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.
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