The Fall and Redemption of Man

Albrecht Altdorfer

Cleveland Museum of Art

The Fall and Redemption of Man by Albrecht Altdorfer: Four black and white images are arranged in two rows on aged paper. Top left image: A dark scene depicts a man on horseback falling to the ground. The man wears a suit of armor and a helmet with a visor. The horse rears up on its hind legs. Two people stand behind; the one on the right is nude. A ghostly figure hovers above. Top right image: A man in a robe stands on a ladder beneath the cross. He looks up at a figure on the cross who is wearing a crown of thorns. A woman stands beside the ladder; she wears a long robe. A cityscape and cloudy sky are in the background. Bottom left image: A man holds a spear and stands on a rock. A halo surrounds his head. He looks at five people on the ground; two are lying down and three stand. Bottom right image: A man with a halo stands and gestures toward two people on the ground. The person on the left wears a hat and sits; the person on right lies down. A cityscape and cloudy sky are in the background. A roof with a flag on top is on the right.