Rhinoceros

Albrecht Dürer's 1515 woodcut Rhinoceros is a remarkable example of animal painting from the Northern renaissance. Dürer never saw the living rhinoceros, relying instead on a written description and a brief sketch of the animal brought to Lisbon in 1515. The King of Portugal sent the rhino as a gift for Pope Leo X, but it was lost at sea. Despite its inaccuracy, Dürer's depiction became iconic, blending detailed engraving with imaginative interpretation, reflecting the period's fascination with exotic animals and exemplifying the meticulous craftsmanship characteristic of Northern renaissance animal paintings.