The artwork titled “Soldiers under the cross” by Albrecht Durer, created in 1489, is a genre painting from the Northern Renaissance period. This art piece represents a scene with figures that appear to be soldiers gathered around a central point of interest, which is not visible in the given frame. The artwork can be found at the Stadelsches Kunstinstitut und Stadtische Galerie (Stadel) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
In the sketch, there is an assortment of soldiers in various poses and attire, indicative of the period. Some of the figures are adorned with feathered hats, and their clothing suggests military or ceremonial garb. The level of detail in the drawing shows great care in the rendering of textures and suggests movement and interaction among the figures. One can observe the expressiveness of their faces and gestures, which suggests a narrative or a significant event taking place just out of view, presumably related to the cross in the title. The artwork is executed with confident lines, displaying Durer’s mastery over the medium and his ability to convey a dynamic scene.
