Портрет Иоганна Клеебергера

Dürer painted this in 1526, two years before he died, and he dressed a living merchant up as an ancient Roman. Johann Kleeberger was a rich Nuremberg financier who had married into the family of Dürer’s close friend Willibald Pirckheimer. Rather than the usual half-length in a room, Dürer set him as a bust turned in a circular stone opening, like a portrait medal come to life. Look for a moment and the flat coin becomes a fully rounded head standing in a niche, the letters of his name and the date carved around him, small emblems tucked into the corners. It is a scholar’s conceit about fame and antiquity, made for a man who wanted to be remembered like a Roman. The same year Dürer painted two other Nuremberg citizens in plainer, more sober fashion.