This spring for a limited time, the Museum unveils its most recent print acquisition, an exquisite engraving by the Master sixteenth-century German artist, Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). The purchase of the print by the SOTA Print Fund was made possible by the generous donation of funds by SOTA member Brigitte Erhard-Boos and her husband Helmet Erhard, together with a contribution from Lehigh Cement. Two giants among painters, Albrecht Dürer from Nuremberg and Leiden-born Rembrandt van Rijn from Holland are also considered among the greatest graphic artists in the history of European art. Following on the heels of the Museum’s celebrated acquisition last winter of Rembrandt’s 1659 etching, Saint Peter and St. John at the Gate of the Temple Healing the Cripple, the attainment of a superb impression of Dürer’s engraved interpretation of the same subject comes as a wonderful and timely stroke of good fortune. Rembrandt collected Dürer’s prints, and his own work reveals close study of their every aspect. The two artists explored many of the same subjects, and Rembrandt’s work often reflects and debates the underlying psychology and technical expression of his Renaissance predecessor from Germany. While Rembrandt’s work pays homage to Dürer, the legacy is reinterpreted through the lens of the seventeenth century with its differing national, political and stylistic sensibilities. Katagami: The Ancient Art of Stenciling, a display of the precise and intricately carved paper stencils used in Japan for decoration of textiles for some 500 years, will remain on display in the SOTA Foyer showcase through April 20. This display will be followed by Lavender and Old Lace (April 25–July 27), a mini-exhibit that highlights another kind of precision work: that of lace. Lace is an art form in its own right as well as a fashion embellishment. These examples, selected from the Museum’s extensive lace collection, provide a sampling of lovely laces from the seventeenth to the early twentieth centuries. These laces represent a variety of different styles and techniques and encompass a wide variety of designs and motifs, from playful cherubs to elegant floral explosions.		Albrecht Dürer, German (1471-1528). St. Peter and St. John Healing the Cripple, from The Engraved Passion, 1513 Engraving Purchase: Gift of Helmut S. Erhard and Brigitte Erhard-Boos through the SOTA Print Fund, 2007. Artist unknown, Italian. detail Bertha Collar Burano needle lace cotton, 1907 Gift of Mrs. William P. Hacker, 1983
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