Courtyard of the Former Castle in Innsbruck without Clouds

Presumably created during Albrecht Dürer's first journey to Venice, this watercolor is showing a view of the courtyard of a castle in Tirol, the exact location still being disputed. With his characteristic attention to details, the artist created a splendid view of a medieval architectural ensemble. The historian will find here a wealth of information regarding the Germanic medieval architecture, starting with the typical tower roof in the back.

On the left, the covered staircase is leading to an entrance on the second floor, as it was the case with many medieval dwellings, including in England. On the far left, there is another external staircase, with a slightly Renaissance appearance, while on the right, you can see the corbie-steps decorating the gable ends of the buildings.