Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), after - Apertura del quinto e sesto sigillo, Foglio grande

Opening of the fifth and sixth seals is a woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, part of the Apocalypse series of 1498. It is based on the description of the vision contained in chapter 6, 12–17 of the Apocalypse of St. John.

At the top, an angel dispenses white garments to the martyrs, and below, a rain of blazing stars falls on the innocents on the left and on the guilty on the right.

The earth is shaken by calamities: people from all social strata, peasants, the rich, slaves and free, implore mercy and forgiveness before the wrath of the Lamb.

In the Book of Revelation it is told that with the opening of the sixth seal came the day of wrath: the sun darkened, the moon became red as blood, the stars fell, and the mountains and islands were removed from their places.

The work is part of a cycle of 15 woodcuts dated about 1496–1498.

Bibliography
W.L. Strauss, The Illustrated Bartsch, Commentary, New York, 1981; M. Pizzi, Albrecht Dürer e il suo tempo - le tavole dell Apocalisse, Bergamo, 1990;

Impression in very good conservation state from the mid-19th century on laid paper, small margins, a small hole visible only by transmitted light
Monogrammed at bottom center: AD

Having settled in Nuremberg, around 1496 he began to conceive an ambitious, in many ways innovative project, preparing an illustrated edition of John’s Apocalypse, which appeared in 1498 in two editions, one in Latin and the other in German. The theme was particularly topical at the turn of the century, with millennial fears that were being recorded.

The work was the first book to be designed and published on the personal initiative of an artist, who drew its illustrations, cut its wood engravings, and also acted as publisher.

With remarkable speed, the Apocalypse (and with it the name Albrecht Dürer) spread to all the countries of Europe and earned its author the first great success.