Great Piece of Turf

The great lawn is a watercolor by the German painter Albrecht Dürer. It is one of the most famous still life of German art history. In addition to the hares it is considered most famous nature study Dürer. The watercolor is part of the Graphic Arts Collection of the Albertina in Vienna.

Description

The picture shows a small piece of meadow with various grasses (such as Kentucky blue grass ) and herbs ( dandelion). The year 1503 is barely readable hidden in the ground at the bottom right of the screen. Contrary to the first impression is shown here not a natural piece of turf. The view point is very low, the image can not therefore have originated in the meadow. Probably the study is made ​​in the studio, possibly the grasses were studied and drawn individually and separately. The image center is not in the center. The view is out of the bright, plastic leaves on the right side of the center to the left into the dense and dark place. Go down the picture ends in a marshy soil, which is shown with wider and darker brushwork. As a counterpoint post to the fine tips of grasses appear in the upper part.

Although the study only shows a segment of nature, however, the individual grasses, as well as dandelion and plantain as whole plants from the root to the tip are recorded and bloom. The plants shown are orchard grass, plantain, speedwell, yarrow, daisies and dandelions.

Classification

The great lawn is next to the iris ( Kunsthalle Bremen ) is the only secure pure plant study Dürer. Further, earlier Dürer Works attributed as the bunch of violets, do not originate from him.

Perhaps these plants study was related to the Maria with the many animals, in which a large number of plants and animals are presented. However, the lawn does not return verbatim in the drawing.