Dürer (1471-1528) – Artist of the Northern Renaissance
The renaissance spread from Italy to northern European countries. Albrecht Dürer became famous as both a painter and an engraver. He was the first German artist to achieve fame outside his country. Dürer was born in Nuremberg, the son of a goldsmith. At fifteen he was apprenticed to the chief painter in the town. He was appointed court painter to the emperor Maximilian, leader of the Holy Roman Empire. Dürer is noted for his self-portraits, his portraits and his studies of plants and animals. He painted many self-portraits because he wanted to be remembered. He said that the art of painting is to preserve the image of man after death. Dürer is famous for his engravings. These were prints made from wood or copper on which pictures had been engraved with a sharp tool. Engravings demanded very sharp lines and fine details. His most famous engravings were “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”, “St Jerome in His Study” and “The Knight, Death and the Devil”. Dürer painted plants and animals in great detail. His Large Clod, which shows a clump of grass, and his Young Hare are very realistic. His love of animals and desire to paint them led to his death. He caught fever in Holland whilst trying to observe a stranded whale which had been washed ashore.