What is the largest sharp print size for Melencolia I?

At 300 dpi, this 2,820 × 3,561 px file prints up to 9.4 × 11.9 in with gallery-sharp detail. At 150 dpi the file reaches 18.8 × 23.7 in, which is poster-sharp quality.

Which standard frame sizes give gallery-sharp prints of Melencolia I?

Gallery-sharp (300 dpi or above) frame sizes: 8 × 10 in. Sharp-to-poster-quality sizes also work: 11 × 14 in, 12 × 16 in, 16 × 20 in.

Does printing Melencolia I require cropping the image?

Standard frame aspect ratios may not match this artwork exactly; depending on the size chosen, up to 16% of the image could be cropped. Most print-on-demand services let you adjust the crop position or add a white mat border instead.

Melencolia I — Albrecht Dürer | Free high-res download

Melencolia I

Albrecht Dürer · 1514 · The Met, New York

Public domain · CC0 · $0.002,820 × 3,561 px · 10 MP

Prints gallery-sharp up to9.4 × 11.9 inat 300 dpi, uncropped · poster-sharp to 18.8 × 23.7 in at 150 dpi

The download is the Met's own open-access file, served by the Met. Big file — give it a minute.

How big can you print it?

Standard frame sizes, turned to match the artwork. "Crops" is how much of the picture you lose filling that frame edge to edge — or keep it all and let a mat take up the difference.

Frame	Effective dpi	Verdict	Crops
8 × 10 in	352	Gallery sharp	1%
11 × 14 in	254	Sharp up close	1%
12 × 16 in	222	Sharp up close	5%
16 × 20 in	176	Poster sharp	1%
18 × 24 in	148	Fine across a room	5%
24 × 36 in	98	Too soft	16%
30 × 40 in	89	Too soft	5%

Will it fit over your couch? Put this one on your wall, to scale — crop or mat, frame size, hang height and the order.

The ticket

Melencolia I is a print by Albrecht Dürer (German, Nuremberg 1471–1528 Nuremberg), dated 1514. Engraving. Size on the museum record: Plate: 9 7/16 × 7 5/16 in. (24 × 18.5 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds it in its Drawings and Prints collection — Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1943.

The Met released its scan under CC0, which means no permission, no fee and no credit line required. That file is 2,820 × 3,561 pixels — 10 megapixels — good for a gallery-sharp print up to 9.4 × 11.9 in. That is bigger than the print itself, which measures about 7.3 × 9.4 in — the file holds more detail than you can see standing in front of the original.Line work lives or dies on contrast. Print it on a smooth, bright paper and give it a wide mat: small graphic work drowns in a thin frame and a big empty border makes it look like it came out of a print room drawer.

On the receipt

Artist: Albrecht Dürer
Date: 1514
Medium: Engraving
Size: Plate: 9 7/16 × 7 5/16 in. (24 × 18.5 cm)
Museum: The Met · Drawings and Prints
Accession: 43.106.1
License: Public domain · CC0 1.0
Source: Museum record ↗

Put this work on your wall

Pick a size, then order the art, its matching frame and the finishing gear. If this work has no ready-made print, download the free file and upload it to the linked custom printer.

1 · Print and frame size

Print and frame use the same outside size. Preview the image placement before buying.

Add an uncut mat board

A mat needs a smaller print and a custom opening. We'll recalculate both below. Check the frame's actual opening before cutting.

Add a picture light

The light width follows your frame size.

2 · Your shopping listDownload the free art file ↗

Art print16 × 20 in · verify the listing matches this artworkCheck print ↗
Matching frame16 × 20 in · check inside dimensionsCheck frame ↗
Uncut mat boardCut opening to 12.75 × 16.15 in; confirm dimensions before cuttingCheck mat ↗
Hanging kit + levelOne kit for this wallCheck kit ↗
Picture lightOptional finishing touchCheck light ↗

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