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Bernhard von Reesen (1491 – 1521) was a successful merchant born to a patrician family in the Hanseatic city of Danzig (Gdańsk).[1] The Reesen name, with its prefix "von" (of), indicates that the family had its origins in the city of Rees.[1][2]

Bernhard von Reesen
Portrait of Bernhard von Reesen,
1521, by Albrecht Dürer.
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
Born1491
Danzig (Gdańsk)
DiedOctober 1521(1521-00-00) (aged 29–30)
OccupationMerchant
Parent(s)Bernd von Reesen
Brigitte Proite

He was the son of Bernd von Reesen (c. 1460 – 1506) and Brigitte Proite (d. 1506) who were married in 1489.[3] His younger brother Heinrich (1497 – 1532) was also a merchant;[4] his eldest sister, Margarethe (b. 1490), married, in 1516, Hans (Johann) von Schwarzwald (1468 – 1521), an alderman of Danzig.[5][6][7][8]

Reesen was highly educated as was the custom for men of his background at that time. The wealthy businessman was evidently one of a circle of merchants with whom Albrecht Dürer of Nuremberg and his wife were in regular contact while the artist was in Antwerp.[9] In early 1521, when Reesen was about thirty, Dürer painted his portrait.[10][11] The painting can be seen in the permanent exhibition of Old Masters in Dresden, Germany.

He died in October 1521, "tempore pestis" according to the chronicler, Stenzel Bornbach.[12] The day, place and cause of his death are unknown.[13]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Brand 1971, p. 63.
  2. ^ "Portrait of Bernhard von Reesen". Web Gallery of Art. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  3. ^ Brand 1971, p. 64.
  4. ^ Brand 1971, p. 67.
  5. ^ Brand 1971, p. 70.
  6. ^ Weichbrodt 1986, p. 459.
  7. ^ "Rhesen". Genealogische Tafeln zu Familien aus Danzig sowie aus Westpreußen und Hinterpommern. Verein für Familienforschung in Ost- und Westpreußen. 2020. (in German)
  8. ^ "Schwartzwald". Genealogische Tafeln zu Familien aus Danzig sowie aus Westpreußen und Hinterpommern. Verein für Familienforschung in Ost- und Westpreußen. 2020. (in German)
  9. ^ Foister & Brink 2021, p. 92.
  10. ^ Brand 1971, pp. 64–66.
  11. ^ Foister & Brink 2021, p. 92: The painting was completed in March, 1521.
  12. ^ Brand 1971, p. 66: "Pestfälle in 1521 sind weder in Antwerpen noch Danzig nachzuweisen." (Cases of plague in 1521 are not found in either Antwerp or Danzig).
  13. ^ Brand 1971, p. 66.

References

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  • Brand, Erna (1971). "Untersuchungen zu Albrecht Dürers 'Bildnis eines jungen Mannes'". Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Jahrbuch 1970/71. Dresden: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen: 59–83. (in German)
  • Foister, Susan; Brink, Peter van den (2021). Dürer's Journeys: Travels of a Renaissance Artist. London: National Gallery. pp. 87, 92. ISBN 9781857096675.
  • "Rhesen". Genealogische Tafeln zu Familien aus Danzig sowie aus Westpreußen und Hinterpommern. Verein für Familienforschung in Ost- und Westpreußen. 2020. (in German)
  • "Schwartzwald". Genealogische Tafeln zu Familien aus Danzig sowie aus Westpreußen und Hinterpommern. Verein für Familienforschung in Ost- und Westpreußen. 2020. (in German)
  • Weichbrodt, Dorothea (1986). Patrizier, Bürger, Einwohner Der Freien Und Hansestadt Danzig in Stamm- Und Namentafeln Vom 14.-18. Jahrhundert. Bd. 1. Klausdorf/Schwentine: Rosenberg. OCLC 180573477. (in German)
  • Wolf, Norbert (2017). Albrect Dürer. Munich: Prestel. pp. 269–270. ISBN 9783791383453.
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