DISCOVERART

Albrecht Dürer

The Rhinoceros

1515
Woodcut in black on ivory laid paper
21.5 × 30 cm (8.5 × 11.8 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Albrecht Dürer never saw a rhinoceros in real life. Although the letterpress text atop this broadsheet suggests otherwise, he in fact copied the woodcut from a drawing and a description given by an eyewitness before the ship carrying this gift for the king of Portugal sank on the way from India. Nonetheless, despite the lack of direct observation, the resulting image was immensely popular and formed many people’s ideas of the animal’s appearance. As with religious images from this period, the replication of print gave this woodcut its own type of truth.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Albrecht Dürer

Salvator MundiSalvator MundiPortrait of a Woman, Said to Be Caritas Pirckheimer (1467–1532)Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Caritas Pirckheimer (1467–15Virgin and Child with Saint AnneVirgin and Child with Saint AnneVirgin and ChildVirgin and ChildSaint Jerome and the LionSaint Jerome and the LionAdam and EveAdam and EveUlrich VarnbülerUlrich VarnbülerPortrait of Ulrich VarnbulerPortrait of Ulrich Varnbuler

More like this

The RhinocerosAlbrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528) — The RhinocerosRhinocerosEnea Vico — RhinocerosRhinocerosEnea Vico|Albrecht Dürer|Antonio Salamanca — RhinocerosThe RhinocerosWillem Jansz Blaeu|Albrecht Dürer — The RhinocerosRhinoceros, from the Quadrupeds series (N21) for Allen & Ginter CigarettesAllen & Ginter|Lindner, Eddy & Claus — Rhinoceros, from the Rhinoceros in a Landscape within an Ornamental FrameJohann Melchior Füssli — Rhinoceros in a Landscape within anIndian Rhinoceros, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul CigarettesAbdul Cigarettes — Indian Rhinoceros, from the Animals of thElephant and Camel (reverse copy)Francis Barlow|Wenceslaus Hollar — Elephant and Camel (reverThe ElephantMartin Schongauer — The ElephantSpeculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Wild Animals, from antique wall paintings, plate 3Anonymous, Italian, mid-16th century|Antonio Lafreri — SpecuThe ElephantMartin Schongauer — The ElephantA Young ElephantJohann Heinrich Tischbein the Younger — A Young Elephant