The Dream of the Doctor

Details

Bartsch 76; Meder 70 a (von f); Schoch/Mende/Scherbaum 18 a (von f).

Ausstellung:
Go for it! Olbricht Collection (a sequel). Wunderkammer-Objekte, Weserburg. Museum für moderne Kunst, Berlin, 2008/2009.
Lebenslust & Totentanz. Kunstmeile Krems Betriebs GmbH, Kunsthalle Krems, 2010.
Rockers Island. Museum Folkwang, Essen, 2007.

Provenienz:
Robert Balmanno (1780-1861), London, verso “1820” datiert und mit dem handschriftlichen Sammlervermerk (Lugt 213);
Sotheby’s, London, 4.-12. Mai 1830;
Colnaghi, London;
Christie’s, London, 5. Dezember 2006, Los 36;
Privatsammlung, Deutschland.

Description

Splendid, strong, concise and pure early impression before the scratch from the monogram to the foot as well as through the sphere to the bench. Trimmed on or just outside the platemark.
The Doctor’s Dream is one of Dürer’s most amusing and fascinating engravings. Despite the vague traditional title, the subject of this sheet was well known in its day. Giorgio Vasari knew the engraving and gave a precise description. A devilish demon blows unchaste dreams into the ear of the apparently wealthy loafer sitting by the stove with a bellows. In the vernacular, the hot place behind the stove is also called the “hell’s bench”, and not without good reason. In the hot dream, a naked female figure with long flowing hair in an antique contraposto appears to the corpulent man; it is easy to recognise Venus in the seductive figure. Albrecht Dürer’s approach to the subject is rather light-hearted and few of his figures are as charming as the little winged putto playing with his ball and trying to balance precariously on stilts. There is undoubtedly a moral lesson and a warning: laziness leads to graver sins, to lust and wantonness, and earthly love is fickle. – Tiny brown stains, slightly darkened at the upper and lower edge. Verso with remnants of former mounting, otherwise in very good condition.
Rarely so beautiful!