New photography by Ed Pollard captured with a digital camera-2008.

The Four Horsemen

Artist Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528)

Date1498

MediumWoodcut

DimensionsOverall: 15 3/8 x 10 1/8 in. (39.1 x 25.7 cm)
Overall, Plate: 16 13/16 x 12 in. (42.7 x 30.5 cm)

ClassificationsEuropean art

Credit LineBequest of Goldsborough Serpell

Object number46.76.104

On View

Not on view

DescriptionDürer's most famous woodcut. Depicts the passage from the Book of Revelation, 6:1-8, "And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, 'Come!' And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was given a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come!' And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a balance in his hand;... When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, 'Come!' And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider's naem was Death, and Hades followed him; and they were given great power over a fourth of the earth; to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth." The four horses and riders, from left to right, are Death, Famine, War, and Plague (or Pestilence).