Expertise confirmed that the AV ČR has the first edition of Dürer's Rhinoceros

 
Prague – The expertise of the Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences confirmed that Czechia has the first edition of the woodcut Rhinoceros by the German painter and engraver Albrecht Dürer (1471 to 1528). The AV ČR Library acquired it in the 1950s. Today, the first edition was presented at the opening of the festival Week of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Only a few other collecting institutions in the world, such as the British Museum, the Louvre in Paris, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, own the first edition of Dürer's Rhinoceros. The woodcut from 1515 is not an accurate depiction of a real rhinoceros, as Dürer never saw one. In interpreting the sketch and the attached report that came to him, he made several mistakes. For example, the small horn on the neck of the rhinoceros and the representation of its body are incorrect.

The depiction of the Rhinoceros likely came to the AV ČR Library in 1958 as a purchase from an antiquarian. According to experts, the woodcut is considered a key work of European visual culture and is one of the hundred most significant works in world history.

The graphic sheet received more attention at the AV ČR Library during last year's lecture by art historian Sylva Dobalová from the Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The print was displayed to the public to complement the topic of the lecture during the Night of Scientists event. After the lecture, Dobalová examined the woodcut and speculated that it could be the first edition. Her assumption was confirmed by expert analysis.

"This is an exceptionally valuable first edition. The impression comes from an unblemished sharp plate. The originality of the print is evidenced, among other things, by the Renaissance watermark – an anchor in a circle, which can be observed in the illuminated area at the head of the thick-skinned animal," Dobalová stated.

From archival documents, experts deduce that it was likely an acquisition by František Horák, the then director of the library. It was stored in the depository of old prints.

The print includes the date of the graphic's printing, namely the year 1515, and also the famous Dürer monogram above the head of the rhinoceros.

The Week of the Czech Academy of Sciences aims to bring science and its institutions closer to the public. It consists of events such as lectures, tours, and workshops in various cities across the country. It runs from today until Sunday, November 9. The program is available on the website.

The festival will also feature a lecture titled Rhinoceros from 1515: A Rare Discovery of the First Edition of Dürer's Woodcut. Experts will present the discovery of the first edition of the Rhinoceros from the collection of the AV ČR Library. Participants will learn about what preceded the identification of the rare work, what the expert analysis includes, as well as the circumstances of the depiction's creation and the reasons for its widespread significance. Reservations are necessary for the lecture, but it will also be broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Czech Academy of Sciences.