Albrecht Durer

Date of Birth: May 21, 1471

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: April 6, 1528

Biography

Albrecht Dürer was a renowned German painter, printmaker, and theorist from the Renaissance period. Born in Nuremberg, Dürer quickly became known for his high-quality woodcut prints. His vast body of work includes altarpieces, portraits, self-portraits, engravings, and books. Dürer established his reputation and influence across Europe with his innovative and detailed prints that showcased his deep understanding of human anatomy and perspective. His travels to Italy greatly influenced his work, allowing him to merge Northern European artistic traditions with the Renaissance ideals of the Italian masters. Dürer’s contributions to art theory, particularly in the realms of geometry, perspective, and human proportion, were encapsulated in his written works, which continue to be studied and revered.

5 Interesting Facts about Albrecht Durer

1. Dürer was the third child of a large family, with 17 siblings, though many did not survive to adulthood.

2. His father, Albrecht Dürer the Elder, was a successful goldsmith, and Dürer initially trained under him.

3. Dürer is often credited with being one of the first artists to elevate printmaking to the level of fine art.

4. He traveled extensively, including trips to Italy and the Netherlands, which greatly influenced his artistic style and techniques.

5. Dürer wrote several treatises on proportion and measurement, including “Four Books on Human Proportion” and “Four Books on Measurement.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Albrecht Durer

1. “If a man devotes himself to art, much evil is avoided that happens otherwise if one is idle.”

2. “What beauty is, I know not, though it adheres to many things.”

3. “I hold that the perfection of form and beauty is contained in the sum of all men.”

4. “My sight was sharpened by many eyes.”

5. “The artist is chosen by God to fulfill his commands and must never be overwhelmed by public opinion.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While exact figures are not available, Albrecht Dürer was considered wealthy for his time due to his successful commissions and widespread distribution of his prints.