Monday, June 16, 2014

About Durer Paintings

By Darren Hartley


Durer paintings include altarpieces, portraits and self-portraits, engravings and woodcuts. Albrecht Durer was regarded as the greatest German Renaissance artist. Albrecht was born on May 21, 1471, in Numberg. He travelled to Italy in 1494 and remained there until 1495. The Italian trip had a strong effect on Albrecht.

One of the 1496 Durer paintings was a portrait of Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony at the time, who became one of Albrecht's patrons. Albrecht started as an apprentice in the workshop of Michael Wolgemut, a Nuremberg artist between 1486 through 1489. Travelling became a passion starting in 1490.

Durer paintings were also known for their portraits, which were frequently commissioned from him. Among the best works from this lot are Portrait of Durer's Father at 70, Portrait of Oswolt Krel, Portrait of Bernard von Reesen and Portrait of Hieronymus Holzschuher.

It was in 1495 that Albrecht established his own workshop in Nuremberg. Durer paintings consisted of a lot of watercolour landscapes and nature studies throughout Albrecht's life. Most notable of these landscapes are Saint John's Church, House by a Pond, Willow Mill, A Young Hare and The Large Turf.

Durer paintings consisting of three engravings in 1513-1514 comprised Albrecht's greatest achievement in printmaking. These masterpieces were Knight, Death and the Devil, St. Jerome in His Study and Melencolia I. Albrecht worked for Emperor Maximilian after completing these engravings. In celebration of the Emperor's achievements, he was commissioned to design a huge print entitled The Triumphal Arch.

The range and versatility of Durer paintings was astonishing, to say the least. Albrecht's woodcuts and engravings made him famous across Europe. He remains to be considered as the greatest printmaker of all time. He was equally successful at religious and secular subjects, as an oil painter.




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