Albrecht Dürer, German, 1471-1528, Sudarium Held by Two Angels, 1513, engraving, 4 x 5 1/2 inches, Collection of Dr. Dorrance T. Kelly.

GLENS FALLS, NY.- The Hyde Collection presents Dürer & Rembrandt: Master Prints from the Collection of Dr. Dorrance Kelly in its Charles R. Wood Gallery. At the same time, The Hydes & Rembrandt will be on view in the adjacent Whitney-Renz Gallery. Both shows open on July 10 and continue through October 2. 

Dürer & Rembrandt features 82 prints, showcasing 29 superb engravings and woodcuts by the German printmaker, Albrecht Dürer, and 35 exceptional etchings by the Dutch Master, Rembrandt van Rijn. In addition, the exhibition features 18 printed works of their contemporaries, including Hendrick Goudt, Lucas van Leyden, Aegidius Sadeler, and a rare engraving by Lucas Cranach. 

"Dorrance Kelly has assembled one of the most distinguished print collections in the country," noted Erin Coe, the Museum's Director. "Not only are we grateful he agreed to share his treasures with the public, but we are proud to bring this esteemed collection to Glens Falls and the broader region. This is an unparalleled opportunity to see up close some of the finest prints by Dürer and Rembrandt that you would otherwise have to travel to New York or Boston to view. " 

Albrecht Dürer, German, 1471-1528, Lamentation over Christ, 1507, engraving, 4.5 x 2.75 inches, Collection of Dr. Dorrance T. Kelly.

Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt van Rijn are unrivaled as printmakers. Their contemporaries marveled at their virtuosity and creativity. As a woodblock carver, Dürer (1471 - 1528) achieved an incomparable subtlety of line and complexity of image. Capable of creating intricate lines, details, and shading, he raised the status of the woodcut, more commonly used to produce unsophisticated outline illustrations, to new heights. Rembrandt (1606 - 1669), in turn, excelled at etching and drypoint. He had such command of the mechanical processes that he could calibrate the depth and density of his line, and thus translated his fluid, expressive drawing style directly into print. In their hands, the print became a primary medium for artistic expression. 

"This is an extraordinary collection, both in terms of quality and number of prints," said Jonathan Canning, The Hyde's Curator. "From them, we get a real sense of these two artists as individuals. Dürer was self-confident and assured. At times irreverent, he was clearly a man of faith who created iconic religious images. Rembrandt's humanity pervades his prints. Family is represented with tenderness, the suffering with empathy, and those on society's fringes with compassion."

Rembrandt van Rijn, Dutch, 1606-1669, The Descent from the Cross: second plate, ca. 1633, etching and burin (State ii/v), 20 13/16 x 16 1/8 inches, Collection of Dr. Dorrance T. Kelly.

The Hydes & Rembrandt 
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many American art collectors fervently desired to acquire a work by Rembrandt -- Museum founders Charlotte and Louis Hyde were among them. 

Alongside Dürer & Rembrandt, The Hyde will present a companion exhibition that tells the fascinating story of Louis and Charlotte Hyde's quest to secure a painting by the Dutch Master. The Hydes & Rembrandt features materials from the Hyde Archive, including correspondence with their adviser William Valentiner, diaries, photographs, and documents that shed light on their pursuit. 

The Museum's famed Rembrandt, Christ with Arms Folded, will be on display in the Whitney-Renz Gallery, where visitors will have the opportunity to see the work outside of its usual setting in the Library of Hyde House. 

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, Dutch, 1606-1669, Christ with Arms Folded, c. 1655-57, oil on canvas, 43 x 35 1/2 in., 1971.37, The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, NY