Image Description
The famous Copper engraving by Albrecht Dürer from the year 1526 shows the reformer Erasmus from Rotterdam. Erasmus had committed himself to the spiritual and philosophical Further development of the Reformation Martin Luthers and is considered by many to be one of the forefathers of Humanism.
Interesting about the composition is that Erasmus occupies only the upper half of the picture. Books are lying below, a letter is lying around, pretty flowers are standing on the table. Poor Erasmus, in spite of the space, is forced into the upper corner and writes cramped on a small desk.
The long, somewhat corked and tortuous neck of the Erasmus giraffe superimposes a picture with two inscriptions: the upper one is Latin and translated as: "Erasmus of Rotterdam drawn by Albrecht Dürer after life". The lower one, superimposed here, reads: "His books show him better". Quite modest of the good Albrecht. Or whether it was added at the instigation of Erasmus?
') "Desiderius Erasmus - funny giraffe cartoon (Detail 1)")
') "Desiderius Erasmus - funny giraffe cartoon (Detail 2)")
') "Desiderius Erasmus - funny giraffe cartoon (Detail 3)")
') "Desiderius Erasmus - funny giraffe cartoon (Detail 4)")
') "Desiderius Erasmus - funny giraffe cartoon (Detail 5)")