The Opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals, ca. 1496 – 1498

Title

The Opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals

Artist

• Albrecht Dürer

Series

Die Apokalypse, Urausgabe Deutsch 1498

Part Number / Total

6 / 16

Period Produced

• 15th century

Object Type

• art print

Material

• handmade paper

Technique

• woodcut

Label at the Time of Manufacture

Monogrammiert unten Mitte: AD

Work Catalogues

• Bartsch VII.128.65
• Meder 1932.154.168
• Schoch/Mende/Scherbaum 2.79.116
• Hollstein German VII.138.168
• TIB 1001.265

Institution

• Städel Museum

Departement

• Department of Prints and Drawings

Collection

• Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline

Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright

Public Domain

Genre

• Biblical portrayal
• historical narration

Main Motif

• angel
• Eve
• Adam
• Adam and Eve
• Abel
• woman
• man
• child
• group of people
• star (heavenly body)

Persons Shown

• Eve
• Adam
• Adam and Eve
• Abel

Associated Persons and Institutions

• Anton Koberger

Illustrated Passage

• Bibel, Neues Testament, Offenbarung 6,9-17

Associated Source

• Bibel, Neues Testament, Matthäus 23,35
• Bibel, Neues Testament, Hebräerbrief 12,24
• Bibel, Altes Testament, Genesis 4,10
• Bibel, Neues Testament, Matthäus 23,35
• Bibel, Neues Testament, Hebräerbrief 11,4
• Bibel, Neues Testament, Hebräerbrief 12,24

Primary

• 73G312 opening of the fifth seal: white robes are given to (the souls of) the martyrs under the altar
• 73G313 opening of the sixth seal: a great earthquake, the sun turns black, the moon red as blood, and the stars fall on earth; mankind hiding in caves