A portrait of Durer's father

Painting. Richard Greenbury, after Albrecht Durer. A portrait of Durer's father. Half-length wearing brown. Inscribed along the top: 1491.ALBRECHT.THVRER.DER.ELTER.VI ID.AET 70 IOR. The reverse of the panel bears twice the brand of a panel maker, GN. This painting follows a composition by Albrecht Durer. Several versions of the composition are known, of which the best (and possibly the original) is in the National Gallery (inv. no. 1938). The National Gallery picture is probably one of two portraits, then thought to be by Durer, presented by the city of Nuremberg to Charles I, through the Earl of Arundel, in 1636, the other picture being the self portrait of the artist, signed and dated 1498, now in the Prado, Madrid. Arundel is known to have commissioned copies of both pictures from the artist Greenbury (presumably Richard Greenbury, born before 1600, died after 1651) and these were bought by the King and intended to be sent to Nuremberg in return for the originals. There is, however, no record that the pictures were sent and it is possible that the pictures remained in store until the Civil War prevented their despatch. Hollar engraved the composition in 1644 reproducing the inscription of the Syon picture which differs from the National Gallery picture in putting VI ID for VND. Hollar also engraved Durer's self portrait in 1645 with the inscription 'ex Collectione Arundeliana', although the original belonged to Charles I and not to Arundel. It is likely, therefore, that the copies by Greenbury were the pictures engraved by Hollar. It is also likely that the Syon picture, with its mis-read inscription, was copied from the picture presented to Charles I by the city of Nuremberg and now in the National Gallery. Engraved: Probably engraved by Hollar in 1644 (see note). Oil on panel. 20ins. by 15 3/4ins. Provenance: Probably the Earl of Arundel, 1636-after 1644; Probably King Charles I, after 1644; 1847 Syon House inventory.