Second Italian journey; paintings (1505-1506)

A decade after his first visit to Venice, Dürer decided to return. In the autumn of 1505 he set off across the Alps. While in Venice, Dürer painted the portrait of Burkard von Speyer, as well as portraits of two women, one a gentle girl and the other a slightly older woman. Dürer also did a radiantly coloured picture known as The Madonna with the Siskin, named after the bird which is perched on the Christ child's shoulder.

By far the most important of Dürer's Venetian works, and the one which earned him his reputation for handling colour, is the altarpiece commissioned by the German merchants for the Church of San Bartolomeo. Known as The Altarpiece of the Rose Garlands, it depicts the Virgin distributing garlands to worshippers, led by the Pope and the Emperor.

After visits to Bologna and Florence Dürer may well have gone to Rome, where it is thought that he painted the panel of Christ among the Doctors. He must then have returned home via Venice.