Portrait of Oswolt Krel: "Sylvan Men" with Heraldic Shields of Oswolt Krel

The portrait of Oswolt Krel of 1499, in the Bavarian State Painting Collections, is one of Dürer's most celebrated early portraits, depicting a factor of the Ravensburg Trading Company resident in Nuremberg — one of the major international commercial organizations of the period. The wings of the triptych-format portrait, depicting the wild men (Sylvan Men) with the Krel heraldic shields, survive separately, making this an unusual surviving example of the Flügelporträt format. Albrecht Dürer brought Italian Renaissance ideas north, combining German Gothic tradition with classical proportions to become the dominant artist in the German-speaking world. Portraiture flourished during the Renaissance as humanism elevated the individual, and the Krel portrait is regarded as one of the most penetratingly psychological of Dürer's early portrait achievements.

Oil on canvas, the portrait demonstrates Albrecht Dürer's command of scientific observation and brilliant draftsmanship. The careful modeling of the face reveals close study of the sitter's physiognomy, while the treatment of costume and setting projects appropriate social standing.