Arte, símbolo e religião: as influências do esoterismo na gravura “Melencolia I” de Albrecht Dürer

Abstract

The matter of symbols and esoterism led to the encounter with the enigmatic Albretch Dürer’s engraving “Melencolia I”. Behind this work, a surprising atmosphere from Renaissance is revealed surrounding melancholy which has been the subject of studies by physicians, philosophers and theologians for many years according to previous studies. Historically registered, melancholy became the symptom of the greatest erudite intellectuals who in search of science and defying the human limitations in learning often felt in the state of melancholy, or acedia, as it was denominated during the Middle Ages. On the one hand, given the importance paid to the “melancholic people” Albretch Dürer decided to work on “Melencolia I” as a tribute to the mood of the greatest savants. On the other hand, his piece of art is not unchallenging, for the amount of exposed symbols on the engraving reflects one another reality: the esotericism. Starting from this comprehension along with a scientificbibliographic compilation this research aims at approaching the esoteric side on “Melencolia I”. Thus, exploring the philosophic and religious context during the Renaissance in order to understand the intellectual environment which influenced Dürer’s engraving. In regards to that, Neoplatonic Florentine Academy was the most important confluence of humanistic studies during the rise of esotericism expressed in practices such as the Alchemy and Witchcraft that were key elements on the context of Renaissance which in Germany culminated in the influence on Dürer’s “Melencolia I”, one his most well-known and celebrated works. As a result, this research finally unveiled a hermeneutic related to the engraving from a cultural context in which it was conceived. Thus, it was taken in consideration the aspects of esotericism – highly praised and diffused during that period chiefly by the Neoplatonic Florentine Academy. There also evidence that some aspects of Dürer’s life might have been influenced by the theme of “Melencolia I”.