Albrecht Dürer Painter, Printmaker, and Renaissance Theorist

Albrecht Dürer (born May 21, 1471 – died April 6, 1528) was a German painter, printmaker, and theorist of the Renaissance, celebrated for his woodcuts, engravings, and scholarly works on proportion and perspective.

Born in Nuremberg, Dürer quickly established himself as one of the foremost artists of his era. His works such as Melencolia I, Knight, Death, and the Devil, and Adam and Eve showcased his mastery of engraving and his deep intellectual engagement with humanism.

Dürer traveled widely across Europe, including to Italy and the Low Countries, where he absorbed influences that enriched his own style. His art combined Northern precision with Italian Renaissance ideals of proportion and harmony.

Beyond his visual art, Dürer published important theoretical treatises on geometry, perspective, and fortifications, making significant contributions to both art and science.

Date of Birth: May 21, 1471

Place of Birth: Nuremberg, Holy Roman Empire

Nationality: German

Known for: Renaissance Art, Engravings, Woodcuts, Theoretical Works on Proportion

Catalogue of Major Works

Year	Title (Original German)	English Title	Medium / Notes
Paintings
1498	Selbstbildnis	Self-Portrait (Madrid)	Oil on panel; Museo del Prado. Early mature self-portrait showing Italian influence.
1500	Selbstbildnis im Pelzrock	Self-Portrait in a Fur-Trimmed Robe	Oil on panel; Alte Pinakothek, Munich. Iconic frontal self-image resembling Christ.
1502	Feldhase	Young Hare	Watercolor and gouache; Albertina, Vienna. One of the most celebrated nature studies in art history.
1504	Adam und Eva	Adam and Eve	Oil on panel; Museo del Prado. Idealized human figures inspired by classical proportions.
1506	Madonna mit der Birn	Madonna with the Pear	Oil on panel; Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
1511	Adoration der Heiligen Drei Könige	Adoration of the Magi	Commissioned for Frederick the Wise; Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
1526	Die Vier Apostel	The Four Apostles	Oil on panel diptych; Alte Pinakothek, Munich. Dürer’s last major painting.
Engravings & Woodcuts
1498	Apokalypse	The Apocalypse Series	Woodcut series including Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
1504	Das Kleine Pferd	The Little Horse	Copper engraving exploring anatomy and proportion.
1504	Adam und Eva	Adam and Eve (Engraving)	Renowned print emphasizing classical idealism.
1513	Ritter, Tod und Teufel	Knight, Death and the Devil	Master engraving symbolizing moral steadfastness.
1514	Melencolia I	Melancholia I	Allegorical engraving; masterpiece of Renaissance symbolism.
1514	Der Heilige Hieronymus im Gehäus	St. Jerome in His Study	Technical virtuosity; part of Dürer’s master engraving trio.
1515	Rhinocerus	The Rhinoceros	Woodcut based on written accounts; one of Europe’s most famous prints.
Theoretical Works
1525	Unterweisung der Messung mit dem Zirkel und Richtscheit	Instruction in Measurement with Compass and Ruler	Treatise on geometry and perspective in art.
1527	Vier Bücher von menschlicher Proportion	Four Books on Human Proportion	Posthumously published; seminal study of ideal human proportions.

Legacy & Influence

Regarded as the **greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance** and pioneer of printmaking as a fine art.
Combined German craftsmanship with Italian Renaissance ideals of perspective and anatomy.
Influenced later masters including Rembrandt, Goya, and William Blake.
His self-portraits helped establish the modern concept of the artist as an intellectual individual.
The Young Hare and Melencolia I remain central to European art history and symbolism.

Artistic Contributions and Influence

Dürer’s innovations in printmaking elevated the medium to new artistic heights, enabling the wide dissemination of his works. His fusion of detailed realism and intellectual symbolism set new standards for European art.

Personal Life

Married to Agnes Frey, Dürer maintained close connections with humanist scholars of his time. His writings and correspondence reveal his fascination with science, mathematics, and philosophy.

Death and Legacy

Albrecht Dürer died in Nuremberg on April 6, 1528. His artistic genius and theoretical contributions secured his place as one of the greatest figures of the Renaissance, influencing generations of artists across Europe.