Head of Bearded Old Man (Saturn) by Durer Poster

Head of a Bearded Old Man (Saturn) by Albrecht Durer, 1516, is an intense black chalk portrait study drawing of the bearded old god from ancient mythology. Notice the wispy details of hair and beard over the naturalistic wrinkles and piercing gaze of the subject. The Latin title SATVRNO is inscribed across the top of the sheet. Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) was a German painter of the Northern Renaissance whose work as an engraver, printmaker, mathematician and theorist secured his reputation as one of the greatest artists of Europe. His many paintings, portraits, altarpieces, watercolors, and engravings were the first in the Northern Renaissance to use classical motifs from antiquity and the Italian Renaissance. Durer’s unparalleled skill in drawing and engraving as well as mastery of perspective allowed him rapid execution of a range of motifs which elicit universal admiration to this day.