Arch of Honor, 1515

The "Arch of Honor" was commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519) as a monumental woodcut print designed to illustrate his ancestry, territories, predecessors as emperor, accomplishments, personal talents and interests. The full monument combining illustrations and text comprises 36 sheets of large folio paper printed from 195 woodblocks, 192 of which were designed by Albrecht Dürer. As a reflection of Maximilian's position as Holy Roman Emperor, the piece was intended to link him to the triumphal arches and triumphs of Ancient Rome. The design includes three arches (central arch: "Honour and Might", left arch: "Praise", right arch: "Nobility") with the central arch including a family tree which leads back to the first King of the Franks, Clovis I (466–511). His conversion to Christianity towards the end of the 5th century set an important milestone for the further course of medieval history.

Arch of Honor, woodcut on 36 sheets of paper, 1515, printed 1517/1518, artists: Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) et al; source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 28.82.7–.42, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/388475, public domain.