Albrecht Dürer - Coat of Arms with a Skull, 19th century

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On the viewer’s left in this intricate drawing, a young woman dressed in a long medieval gown and an elaborate headdress is embraced from behind by a satyr figure.  His furry shoulders and full bearded head are visible above her right shoulder and his tail from behind her left leg. He holds in his right hand a forked staff. Hooked on the staff is a full heraldic ensemble, which occupies most of the right side of the drawing and includes a pair of large wings, swirling foliage, and a large shield with a skull.

Copy after Albrecht Dürer (Nuremberg, 1471 - 1528, Nuremberg)

Coat of Arms with a Skull, 19th century

Pen and ink on vellum, 21.7 x 15.7 cm (8 9/16 x 6 3/16 in.)

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Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.