"Varnbüler was a learned friend of Erasmus and of Pirkheimer, much valued by both, and often mentioned in their letters.
Pirkheimer dedicated to him, in very flattering terms, his edition of Lucian's dialogue, Navis et Vota.
He [Varnbüler] had been since 1507 Protonotary of the Supreme Court of the Empire, and in 1531 was made Chancellor of this tribunal."*
*From: Albrecht Dürer, his Life and Works, a translation by Frederick A. Eaton of the German original by Moritz Thausing.

The woodcut has been praised by experts as "the largest and most important of Dürer's portraits on wood." It was made in 1522.

An impression made in about 1620 was purchased in 1893 for the collection of the Smithsonian Museum.

(Scroll down for other photos below).

This is the preparatory drawing that Dürer made for the woodcut. It is preserved in Vienna.

Below is an internet page showing the results of a Christie's auction featuring the works of Albrecht Dürer.
One of the works sold was an original engraving of Dürer's woodcut portrait of Ulrich Varnbüler.
It was estimated to bring £20,000 to £30,000 (British pound), or the equivalent at the time of the sale, $41,320 to $61,980.
Instead it went for £58,100, or $120,035.

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