The big piece of lawn
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| The big piece of lawn |
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| Albrecht Dürer , 1503 |
| Watercolor and opaque colors, heightened with opaque white, laid on cardboard |
| 40.8 x 31.5 cm |
| Albertina (Vienna) |
The large piece of lawn is a watercolor by the German painter Albrecht Dürer . It is one of the most famous natural studies in German art history. Alongside the brown hare , it is Dürer's most famous study of nature. The watercolor belongs to the graphic collection of the Albertina in Vienna.
description
The picture shows a small piece of meadow with various types of grass (such as bluegrass ) and herbs ( dandelion ). The year 1503 is barely legible hidden in the ground at the lower right edge of the picture. Contrary to the first impression, no natural piece of lawn is shown here. The focal point is very low, so the picture cannot have been taken on the meadow. The study was probably made in the studio, possibly the grasses were studied and drawn individually and separately. The center of the image is not in the center of the image. The view is guided by the light, plastic leaves on the right side over the middle to the left into the dense and dark place. The picture runs down into a swampy earth, which is depicted with broad and dark brushwork. As Kontrapost to the fine peaks appear in the upper part of the grass.
The study shows only a part of nature, but the individual grasses, but also dandelion and plantain are recorded as whole plants, from the roots to the tips or flowers. Plants depicted include ball of grass , plantain , speedwell , yarrow , daisies, and dandelions.
classification
Besides the Iris ( Kunsthalle Bremen ), the large piece of lawn is Dürer's only secured study of plants. Other works previously ascribed to Dürer, such as the bouquet of violets , do not come from him.
This study of plants may have originated in connection with Mary with the many animals , in which a large number of plants and animals are represented. However, the patch of lawn does not appear literally in the drawing.
literature
- Heinz Wiedauer: The big piece of lawn . In: KA Schröder, ML Sternath: Albrecht Dürer . Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit 2003, pp. 270-272, ISBN 3-7757-1330-1