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Lot 1

Albrecht Dürer
(1471-1528)
The Temptation of the Idler (The Dream of the Doctor)

7 October 2025, 10:00 PDT
Los Angeles

Sold for US$7,040 inc. premium

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Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

The Temptation of the Idler (The Dream of the Doctor) (Bartsch 76, Meder, Hollstein 70, Schoch Mende Scherbaum 18), 1498
Engraving on laid paper with Bishop's Crest watermark (Meder 39), Meder's state e (of f), trimmed to the platemark, framed.
sheet 7 3/8 x 4 3/4in (18.8 x 12.1cm)

Footnotes

Lot Essay
Albrecht Durer depicts the German proverb 'idleness is the devil's pillow' in this striking engraving. While the doctor is asleep at the stove resting on a soft cushion, the devil blows wicked ideas in his ear. In his lustful dreams, Venus herself tempts him while little Amor (Cupid) tries to balance on stilts in the foreground, symbolizing moral instability. The moral lessons are clear: idleness (or sloth) leads to another sin of lust, and love is fickle. The Dream of the Doctor is a secular depiction of the Fall of Man, complete with the apple resting on the stove. Durer renders Venus in the same pose as Eve in his famous engraving of Adam and Eve with flowing curly hair and her right arm outstretched. Durer's virtuosity is on full display in this enchanting print, featuring his signature combination: powerful storytelling and incredible linework.

Additional information

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