Decoding art: Dürer's Melencolia I

This famous image is packed with meaning. Find out what each of these objects symbolizes, and how they relate to the overall theme of melancholy.
Special thanks to the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Albrecht Dürer, Melencolia I, 1514, engraving (Minneapolis Institute of Art)

[@duranbailiff5337]

Albrecht Durer is my all-time favorite artist- Gifted by God- for the benefit of humanity!

[@giovanni_battaglia]

Su c è dio e noe

[@Sonic23rd]

Durer is one of the greatest! Love to see this channel talking about him :)

[@michelleburkholder2547]

This is probably my most favorite work of art ever. So much to relate to. The Freemasons us carpentry tools in their symbols, but I think that's just a coincident.

[@theQuickRundown]

Wonderful video! Just one correction: the geometric object is not an octahedron but a truncated triangular trapezohedron (quite a mouthful, i know!) One of my favourite pieces of art.

[@jackolyte325]

Just got a tattoo of this whole piece to my arm, took 9 hours :)

[@michelleburkholder2547]

Good choice

[@ernestoh429]

How much was it

[@jackolyte325]

@@ernestoh429 sorry 4 the late response, it was 250 dollars in todays money

[@alejandropuente5233]

where can we see a picture of it?

[@arthursspace4755]

Wow only $250?!? I'd be shocked to find an artist in Toronto with prices so low :0

[@amritansh8659]

At first i was just pertained to watching this for my uni project, but the more i read about it and dig futher in to the painting essay(s) of 'Melencolia I' i cannot stop myself but to wonder, wow, this truly is a great piece of art, might as well print it and hang it on my wall. thanks for sharing, have a good time ahead :)

[@WicherBos]

Thx for sharing, i enjoyed watching this!

[@dr.omar.insights2000]

Nice tour

[@matthewmorgan6814]

Hearing Chef John's theme at the end really cheered me up

[@smarthistoryvideos]

For the record, I am pretty sure we started our videos and using this music before Chef John. So John, ahmmm... I think a dinner invitation is in order.

[@andrewmcgillivray1881]

the tool at the lower right, refered to as molder‘s form, is actually a wooden square that references to the edge of a board or timber.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

Do you mean the straight edge, that's how we reference it at 2:49

[@somerandomname3124]

So in a sense it's a self portrait.

[@pippofelipe6901]

i do believe it is an self portrait too, and even more (in terms of possibilities) which is great.

[@coorkie]

Ugh, gorgeous!

[@jojobizadTRASH]

Extremely informative compared to most videos

[@phillipstroll7385]

Not really, it's all wrong

[@dieu_et_maitre]

@@phillipstroll7385 how

[@Sasha0927]

Initial impression: isn't Dürer artsy Jesus? The guy who drew himself in a Christ-like portrait? lol. Next impression: LOL. Can relate to the "brooding angel" depicted here. My hand was on my cheek just like that when I started the video, so I felt caught. 😅 It's been quite a melancholic week for me, but I'm improving! Beyond that: this piece is absolutely stunning. I'm immediately blown away by the amount of detail and skill it must've taken to complete it. I was again taken aback by the incredible amount of symbolism and how it unexpectedly related to his experiences. A shooting star isn't quite so dreamy in this context, lol... This is rightly called a "summa" because it's given me so much to speculate about and consider in my own life. I hope I can see more of artsy Jesus soon.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

Agreed, we need more Dürer (makes note to self).

[@Sasha0927]

@@smarthistoryvideos Yes! I'm very intrigued by artsy Jesus! lol. Can't wait to learn more and be dazzled again by his incredible work. 😄

[@dustyrustymusty3577]

Oh my! I thought the magic square was a bingo card!

[@carleyg1973]

Would love to expand on the 34...

[@jeb3402]

The magical square is mixed and mismatched to the typical Square of Saturn

[@Nivloc317]

What is the meaning of the partial clock face seen inverted as a arched ribbon above the Hour Glass? It seems to point to the time 12:19 or thereabouts.

[@Pedro72740]

Is it called Melancolia I , or Melancolia One? I've seen and heard both?

[@sirknight4981]

I is the number one in Roman numerals.

[@alejandropuente5233]

Can someone tell me where can i read more about the levels of melancholy? please

[@davidsharpness9990]

Keat's ode...🙂

[@MartinScharfe]

Look at the face of Melencolia. And look at his self-portraits. It's Albrecht himself.

[@pmx1000_]

Gustave dore next

[@kustomweb]

Not an octahedron, looks like a truncated cube. Nerd I am.

[@MX-op7nf]

Nice catch, I never saw it that way.

[@hdgofno]

Actually it is not a truncuated cube. It is a truncuated rhombohedron. If you look closely you can see that the faces are not squares but rhombi/diamonds.

[@jhat2014]

What's a Smarthis Tory?

[@pierdolio]

I was hoping for an explanation and an interpretation.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

We can help with that also. Look here: smarthistory.org/albrecht-durer-melencolia/ and here: smarthistory.org/what-is-melencolia/