The artist’s work was based on knowledge of the exact sciences, such as geometry, urban planning, astronomy. At the same time, engravings and paintings by Albrecht Durer are imbued with a deep philosophical sound.
Biography
The future artist Albrecht Durer was born in the spring of 1471 in a family of Hungarians who emigrated to Germany. The love for painting by a German artist manifested itself early. This prompted parents to entrust the child to Michael Volgemut, whose art workshop had an impeccable reputation. Under his tutelage, the 15-year-old man makes his debut not only as a painter, but also as an engraver.
Further accumulate experience Albrecht continues traveling through Europe. In Colmar, he makes close acquaintance with the sons of Martin Schongauer, whose work Albrecht Dürer constantly admired. A wide range of ideas and interests allowed Dürer to occupy his own niche among book printers and humanists. The volume of his artistic heritage left is estimated at 900 sheets of images, which is comparable to the work of Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci.
Dürer career
The very first serious order of the master was the painting of the house of Zebald Schreyer. It was so successful that it attracted the attention of wealthy Nuremberg patricians, each of whom sought to order his portrait from Dürer. In imitation of the European tradition, all of his models were depicted against a landscape in a three-quarter turn. The main working materials were watercolor, silver pin and pencil.
Having opened his own painting workshop in his homeland, the artist begins to devote engravings to a special place in his craft. Experimenting with various techniques, the master achieved the fact that in 1498 he received an order from the famous publication "Apocalypse". Woodcuts made by the author brought fame throughout the Europe. The Venetian Council, desiring to leave the creator in Italy, offered him a very large reward, but loyalty to the homeland was stronger.
The determining factor for the creative genius was a meeting with the crowned person Maximillian I. The latter, for his excellent work on the portrait, awarded the artist an impressive prize, which allowed Dürer to completely immerse himself in engraving and scientific research. The fine art of Northern Europe of the 16th century is inconceivable without artwork distinguished by the recognizable writing style of this German artist.
