Wing of a European Roller, Watercolor painting at Albertina, Austria
Wing of a European Roller is a watercolor study on parchment measuring just 20 centimeters across and roughly 20 centimeters in height. The work captures the fine structures and color variations of a bird feather with precision applied to every minute detail.
Albrecht Dürer created this work in the early 1500s as a scientific study of an actual bird specimen. It emerged during a period when artists were beginning to turn toward precise nature observation and incorporate it into their practice.
The painting reveals how artists of the Northern Renaissance approached nature with both technical skill and keen observation. The detailed rendering of feather structure and coloring reflects the period's fascination with studying the world through careful attention.
The work is permanently displayed at the Albertina and can be viewed during regular hours. Its small size rewards careful attention to fully appreciate the subtle brushwork and delicate color transitions.
The work emerged not from imagination or memory but from studying an actual bird, making it one of the earliest examples of art-based research. This fusion of artistic talent with scientific method was extraordinarily rare and noteworthy for its time.
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