Portrait of the Artist

The drawing is based on a medal made by Mathes Gebel soon after Dürer's death in 1528. It shows the artist at the age of 56. Gebel lived in Nuremberg and was considered the most important medallist of his time, and today as the most prolific medallist in Nuremberg of the Renaissance period. Almost 350 medals are ascribed to him, most of which are two-sided and thinly cast in silver, lead or bronze. Gebel was a friend of Albrecht Dürer. His famous medal for his friend, showing the artist with short hair, is considered the definitive portrait of Dürer at an older age.