c. 1503Brush, pen, ink, watercolour, height 77cm
Kunsthalle, Bremen
c. 1503
Brush, pen, ink, watercolour, height 77cm
Kunsthalle, Bremen
In the 15th century the iris (Iris trojana, or Iris germanica earlier) was only known in Venice. Dürer was probably encouraged to paint it by Jacopo Bellini's sketchbook.
It is significant that Dürer studied not only the shapes and colours of the flower, but painted it life-sized (77 cm) . The watercolour might be linked to a portrayal of Madonna (National Gallery, London), which also has an iris on it.