Portrait of Dürer’s Mother Barbara: Albrecht Dürer

This portrait of Dürer’s Mother Barbara was painted by Albrecht Dürer around 1490 when she was about 39 years old. The physicality of the painting – Barbara occupies most of the picture space and Albrecht pays particular attention to the painting of the details of the face and folds of the neck – seems to be in tension with Barbara’s expression which seems to reveal a melancholic reverie, as she looks out to our right.

Albrecht Dürer: Portrait of Dürer’s Mother Barbara (Bildnis von Barbara Dürer, geb. Holper in his native German) is in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, Germany.