Portrait of Bernhart von Reesen - Albrecht Dürer

🌟 Immersion in the History of the Artwork

Painted in 1521 during Dürer's stay in the Netherlands, the Portrait of Bernhart von Reesen is one of the most accomplished civic portraits of the German Renaissance. This painting depicts a young merchant from Danzig, from the commercial bourgeoisie, whom Dürer met during his diplomatic travels. The artist delivers an oil painting of striking realism, balancing social prestige and silent introspection.

In his notebooks, Dürer briefly notes: "Von Reesen, rich and wise, gave me a warm welcome in Antwerp. He wanted his portrait on a red background." This painting marks a major turning point in the artist's work: that of technical and psychological maturity. Through the clear gaze of the model, Dürer captures a sharp intelligence, assured restraint, a mix of pride and gravity.

This work is part of the tradition of great Flemish court portraits, while maintaining the typical graphic rigor of Dürer. It is a model of balance between human intensity and formal mastery.

📖 Depicted scene

The model, dressed in a black fur coat over a white shirt with an embroidered collar, holds a letter in his right hand. His gaze, slightly turned to the left, seems lost in a discreet thought. The deep red background contrasts with the brightness of the skin and the velvety black of the garment. Nothing distracts from the face: perfect oval, high forehead, clear eyes, mouth drawn with precision. This painting is both a status portrait and a dive into the soul of a man.

🧠 Artistic Expertise – Analysis of the Original Work

In this painting, Albrecht Dürer reveals all the subtlety of his portrait art. The precision of the modeling, the delicacy of the light transitions, and the fineness of the material rendering testify to an absolute mastery of oil painting. The treatment of the face — with its soft shadows and frontal light — expresses a strong inner presence without ever overplaying the emotion.

The palette is sober yet sophisticated: the dark red background enhances the rosy complexion of the face, while the blacks and whites of the clothing emphasize the elegant sobriety of the subject. The contrasts are subtle, the contours sharp, the textures meticulously differentiated. The gaze, slightly moist, reveals a vibrant humanity that only painting can capture at this level of depth.

The composition, strictly frontal, enhances the monumentality of the portrait. This painting embodies the humanist ideal of the early 16th century: a dignified, educated man, master of himself, looking towards the future but rooted in tradition.

🖌️ Artisan Craftsmanship – Why This Reproduction Is Exceptional

Each reproduction of this painting is hand-painted on extra-fine linen canvas, with attention to accuracy in the smallest details: velvet texture, paper folds, shine in the gaze. Our artists specialized in Renaissance techniques use the same types of natural pigments as Dürer — ivory black, lead white, sienna earth, carmine red.

The layered glazes restore the depth of the skin tones and the softness of the light transitions. A satin anti-UV varnish ensures the protection and lasting brilliance of this oil painting.

Each artwork requires about 40 hours of work, with rigorous quality control, ensuring exceptional faithfulness to the original.

📜 Customer Experience – Why Invest in This Reproduction

Choosing this painting reproduction means offering your interior a fragment of European history and humanist refinement. Each painting comes with its numbered certificate of authenticity, guaranteeing the quality of the work and its traceability.

Frames available in black varnished wood, carved walnut, or subtle gilding, suited to the understated elegance of the portrait. Delivered in luxury packaging, with cotton gloves and an explanatory sheet outlining the history of the painting. Secure and traceable shipping with insurance.

💫 Emotional or Symbolic Reading

This portrait embodies the calm, concentration, and silent confidence of a cultured businessman. It inspires respect, stability, a form of inner nobility. This painting is not just a face: it is a presence. It watches, it thinks, it questions.

The painting conveys a silent energy, that of sharp minds, minds focused on the essential. Hanging this work at home is to place a protective figure, a reminder of dignity and moderation.

🏡 Decoration Ideas – Where to Display This Painting

This painting reproduction fits perfectly in a refined office, a traditional library, or a collector's lounge. It harmonizes with noble materials: dark wood, leather, heavy fabrics. It enhances a sober, elegant, intellectual interior.

Placed opposite a bookshelf, near a secretary desk or in a hallway framed with moldings, this painting becomes a visual marker of authority and culture.

🛒 Order your Reproduction of the Portrait of Bernhart von Reesen – Albrecht Dürer

Treat yourself to a fragment of discreet grandeur. This hand-painted oil painting is a unique piece, a blend of virtuosity and timelessness.

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