Erasmus of Rotterdam (copy) 1485 - 1528

This engraving, titled "Erasmus of Rotterdam (copy)", was created sometime between 1485 and 1528 by an anonymous artist. The artwork depicts the humanist scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam seated at a table, writing in a book. The inscription above him identifies the artwork as a portrait and credits the artist as Albert Dürer. The engraving is a fine example of Renaissance portraiture. The subject's thoughtful expression and the detail of the surrounding objects, including books and a vase of flowers, add realism to the image. The work can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.