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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Albrecht Durer Biography Dürer, Albrecht, famous artist, born in Nuremberg, Germany, May 30, 1471; died April 6, 1528. He was the son of a pious goldsmith, received a good education, and was instructed in the goldsmith trade. At the age of fifteen years he executed a production in chased silver representing the seven falls of Christ in accord with the tradition that Christ fell seven times on his way to Mount Calvary while bearing the cross. Soon after he spent four years traveling in Germany and the Venetian states, studying the arts and industries. Later he began to design on wood and engrave on copper, many of his pieces still being extant. He made a second tour to Venice in 1505, where he painted a picture of the martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, and his famous "Adam and Eve," the latter being afterwards purchased for the gallery of Prague. At Bologna he met with Raphael, who esteemed him highly and exchanged portraits with him. After his journey he was appointed court painter by Emperor Maximilian. He visited the Netherlands in 1520, painted the portrait of Erasmus, and became court painter to Charles V. His productions were received with much enthusiasm, not only by the common people, but by the most eminent nobles and crowned heads of his time. His expenses were defrayed at the inns by his admirers, and he was conveyed free from city to city. He became a supporter of the doctrines of the Reformation, and greatly lamented when he was informed of Luther being carried off to the castle of Wartburg. The most celebrated of his copper-plates are "St. Jerome in his Study" and "Little Passion" and of his wood-cuts, "Little Passion;" "Greater Passion," and "The Apocalypse." Much has been said and written of his remarkable genius, and he is commonly known as the "Prince of Artists." The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopĉdia, Vol. II (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 532. |