Final years; paintings (1522-1528)

Dürer painted little in his later years, although he completed several fine portraits. In 1526 he painted the Nuremberg councilors Hieronymous Holzschuher and Jacob Muffel. In the same year Dürer also painted the portrait of the merchant Johannes Kleberger. In 1526 Dürer painted the last version of his favourite subject, the Madonna. The Virgin with the Pear depicts a deeply reflective Madonna offering the fruit to her chubby child. Dürer's final oil paintings, dating from 1526, were the pair of panels of The Four Holy Men. These works were presented to the city council as a gift from the artist.