Saint George of Greater Poland. Meanders of the Reception of Albrecht Dürer’s Copperplate
Joanna Sikorska
JSikorska@mnw.art.plNational Museum, Warsaw (Poland)
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9559-0119
Abstract
Research into the reception of Albrecht Dürer’s art is one more means of investigating the phenomenon of the artist who already in his lifetime enjoyed extraordinary reputation. Interestingly, the analysis of the artistic reflections of his works occasionally uncovers new aspects of the very works. Such are the conclusions that can be reached when the echoes of the 16th century copperplate by Albrecht Dürer showing St George (B. 53) are investigated. Identifying the sign placed on the Saint’s standard as the emblem of the Chivalric Order of the Knights of St George, Campbell Dodgson revealed the peculiar historical and political context of the print. In the light of this observation, the discussed work did not prove to be an ahistorical presentation of the legendary vanquisher of the dragon, but a reference to the contemporary dimension of the cult of the patron of Christian knighthood. The historic importance of St George as the patron of crusaders and defenders of the faith caused that in the 15th century it was to him that in view of the intensifying conflict with the Ottoman Empire appeals were made. That is exactly what Emperor Frederick III Habsburg did when establishing in 1467 the Order of the Knights of St George. Furthermore, St George became a special patron for his son Maximilian I who made the figure of St George an important instrument of political and artistic propaganda.
The question can be asked whether Albrecht Dürer did not demonstrate in his print the exquisite sense of attractiveness and topicality of the theme, creating the effigy of contemporary St George who could be interpreted as a Germanic miles christianus. Moreover, showing St George as an advanced in years and bearded knight could demonstrate a conscious archaization (justified in view of the print’s theme), as well as persuade, through the ‘realism’ of the effigy, to perceive in it the potential of portrayed stylization. The reception of Dürer’s copperplate shows that this ‘realistic’ potential was treated as a kind of an encouragement to portraying and quasi-portraying formulas. This was taken advantage of by e.g. Lucas Cranach the Elder, perfectly familiar with Dürer’s oeuvre, and willingly referring to his works in a creative manner. An interesting instance of the reception of Dürer’s St George which is not limited only to the automatic repetition of the composition or putting together its fragments can be found in the tomb of Ambroży Pampowski, General Greater Poland and Prussia Starost, an agile diplomat and administrator under subsequent Jagiellons at the turn of the 16th century, the tomb located in the Collegiate Church in Środa Wielkopolska. It can be read from Pampowski’s last will that the tomb had been put in place still during his lifetime, and he was really meticulous with the form of his commemoration. Until now researchers have focused on the manner of rendering the figure versus its print model; however, no questions have been asked whether there was any closer relation between the commemoration form and Pampowski’s life story. Meanwhile, several facts from his biography allow to assume that modelling his own tomb on the effigy of St George could have been a purposeful measure testifying to the political awareness of the Greater Poland dignitary.
It cannot be eliminated, either, that Pampowski was also aware of the prestige of the print model’s author. The experience he gained while studying at the Cracow Academy and while working for the Crown Chancellery and at court may have all broadened Pampowski’s cultural horizons and his interests in artistic culture. As a consequence, his activity in the field went beyond a customary care for the prestige of his family and his own person. As seen against the then reception of Dürer’s print in the Kingdom of Poland, Pampowski’s tomb stands out with the fact that it is a rare example of a work whose print model was consciously picked by the founder.
Supporting Agencies
Keywords:
Albrecht Dürer, Saint George, engraving, tombstone of Ambroży Pampowski, Środa Wielkopolska, Lucas Cranach the ElderReferences
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Authors
Joanna SikorskaJSikorska@mnw.art.pl
National Museum, Warsaw Poland
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9559-0119
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