Dürer's Italian Journey: Major Exhibition in Milan

Palazzo Reale in Milan hosts a major exhibition dedicated to Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), curated by Bernard Aikema and Andrew John. The show features 130 works from 40 museums across six thematic sections, highlighting Dürer's encounters with Italian Renaissance masters. It explores his two trips to Venice (1494 and 1505), where he created masterpieces and gained recognition for his prints. The exhibition juxtaposes Dürer's works with those of contemporaries like Cranach, Altdorfer, Baldung Grien, Burgkmair, and Schongauer, as well as Italian artists Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, da Vinci, and Solario. A key theme is Dürer's use of his monogram as an early brand, transforming prints into communication tools. His self-portraits, including a drawing at age 14 and the 1507 Feast of the Rosary, underscore his authorial role. The exhibition also features a section on equestrian drawings and prints, including the 1513 Knight drawing from the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, alongside the famous engraving Knight, Death, and the Devil. Dürer's Melencolia I (1514) from the National Gallery, London, is also on view. The show emphasizes the mobility of Renaissance artists and the exchange between Northern and Southern Europe.