Artist of the renaissance
 

by Gwen Herat

An egoist, proud of his appearance, Durer was an independent man of culture. The intelligent characters that he carried on to his art, especially in woodcuts and exquisite engravings were influenced by Venetian painting which he observed during many of his visits to this art city.

His talent lay in the delicate watercolours of animal and plant life he was obsessed with. Durer mixed with humanists and scholars alike that reflected in his works. Among his many influential patrons was the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximillan 1. Determination and ambition helped Durer to become an artist of repute.

He was born on 21 May, 1471 in the city of Nuremburg, Germany. His father was a goldsmith from Hungary and mother, Barbara bore him 18 children of whom Albrecht was the third. Durer began his schooling in a latin school where he met Willibald Pirckeimer who was to become his lifelong friend and humanist scholar.

As the custom of the day, Durer studied and worked in his father's workshop though his heart lay elsewhere. When his father found out that Durer had no interest in being a goldsmith, he was furious because he had taken a lot of trouble to teach him. Eventually, he gave in to his son's ambition.

When Durer had turned 15, he came face to face with the famous Nuremburg painter, Michael Wolgemut. This was in 1490 and the beginning of his career. He travelled extensively what was then the Holy Roman Empire as well as other historical cities, studying and examining their art.

The great German engraver, Martin Schongauer about whom he had heard so much, was one person he wanted to contact but on arrival, he had passed away.

Disappointed and not being pushed back. Durer decided to stay on with Schongauer's brother.

Schongauer taught him the art of woodcut illustrations for Bibles and other books. By now, his father had arranged a marriage with the daughter of a local coppersmith named Agnes Frey.Within months of his marriage, he found his wife to be greedy, shrewish and nagging and left her.

Durer sent home a self-portrait of himself that was spectacular. It was his first independent attempt at self-portrait painting. This was a turning point in his career because in the whole of European art there had never been anything like this.

He appeared as an unusually a handsome youth adorned in beautiful clothes which can be called as very fashionable by today's standard. They were very fashionable and flamboyant and extremely outstanding. His long blonde tresses made him look even prouder.

After this experience, Durer became his own model and he was only 22 years old. Even Durer's father was a very handsome man if we are to judge by the portraits his son had done.

Around this time a plague hit Nuremberg and many were leaving the city. This applied to the young Durer who travelled to Italy and rediscovered painting of masters done over 200 years ago.

Travelling was difficult with no carriages for long distance journeys. He journeyed to the Alps on horseback which was perilous. This is where he recorded him impressions of the mountain scenery in a series of brilliant watercolours. Most of his nature paintings came from this experience of climbing the Alps and its effect appealed to him very strongly.

He travelled to Venice and all over Europe. Ardently, he copied the works of Mantegna and of other engravers beside his painting skills. Durer enjoyed Venetian life in the company of other artists.

His work came into praise by other Italian artists in contrast to what he had experienced in Germany. This prompted him to say, 'Here I am a gentleman, at home a parasite'.

He was very disillusioned about Nuremberg but opted to come back from Venice who had offered 200 ducats for a year for him to remain in their city. As his popularity grew, he was able to purchase outright the house his family had rented for several years.

He also bought himself a luxurious and imposing house for himself. His wife stayed with him for a short time before moving out. Durer lived there until his death in 1528.

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