Albrecht Dürer’s Hidden Masterpiece: Unveiling the Secrets of St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Discovery of a Lost Treasure
During restoration work at Vienna’s historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a remarkable discovery emerged from beneath layers of dirt in a section now used as a gift shop. Scholars believe the previously unknown artwork is a wall painting rendered by the studio of German Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer, possibly even by the artist himself.
A Triptych of Saints
The wall painting takes the form of a two-dimensional triptych, depicting Saint Leopold, patron of Austria, flanked by Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. Below them is a “predella-type image” resembling the base of an altarpiece.
Dürer’s Masterful Underdrawings
Experts are particularly intrigued by the underdrawings of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, which were etched onto fresh plaster around 1505. These drawings are “undoubtedly by an artist from the circle of Dürer,” according to a cathedral statement. However, Dürer specialist Erwin Pokorny goes further, asserting that the drawings were done by the master himself due to their exceptional quality.
Maximilian I’s Commission
The St. Stephen’s work may have been commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, who expanded Austria’s territory during his reign. A 17th-century biography of Dürer mentions a wall painting ordered by the emperor, but no other records of the commission survive. Until now, the work has been considered a lost legend.
Dürer’s Artistic Journey
Born in Nuremberg in 1471, Dürer rose to prominence as a painter, draftsman, and printmaker. He is widely regarded as the greatest German Renaissance artist. Trips to Italy and the Netherlands significantly influenced his work, shaping his interest in human anatomy and the use of color and design.
Dürer’s Vienna Connection
The discovery of the underdrawings at St. Stephen’s Cathedral raises questions about Dürer’s possible visit to Vienna, which had not been previously documented. He may have stopped there on his way from Nuremberg to Venice or visited his friend, German humanist scholar Conrad Celtis.
A Lost and Found Legacy
Dürer was previously known to have created only one other set of wall paintings, which adorned the Nuremberg town hall but were lost during World War II. The discovery at St. Stephen’s Cathedral thus adds a significant piece to his artistic legacy.
Conservation and Research
St. Stephen’s has launched a conservation project for the triptych, and research on the painting will be published in an Austrian art and preservation magazine later this year. Pokorny remains convinced that the underdrawings were rendered by Dürer’s own hand, highlighting the importance of the discovery for understanding the artist’s travels and influences.
