Albert Durer Albrecht Durer (1471 -- 1528

Albert Durer

Albrecht Durer (1471 -- 1528

(WATT)

Albrecht Durer was born in Nurembourg on May 21, 1471. Albrecht Durer's father, Albrecht Durer the Elder was a famous goldsmith. In 1455, he travelled from Germany to Nurembourg and got married to Barbara Holper. Albert Durer was the third kid of his parents. He had eighteen siblings. Albert Durer's father was a really hard working man. He used to work eighteen hours a day that apparently shows that he had no extra time for his children, but he was a great father. He used to take time out to teach art to his son. He actually was Albert Durer's first art teacher.

As Albert's passion and skills for art started to polish, Abert and his brother developed a wish to study artistry at Nurnberg academy. But unfortunately, it was not possible for both of them to study in such a high level institute as their father did not have enough money to bear the expenditure of two kids at a time so the brothers made a contract. They decided to toss a coin and whoever wins will go to Nurnberg academy for studying art and the one who loses the toss will stay at home, work hard for earnings and through the money earned will support the other brother. Luck played an important role, and finally Albert won the toss and was sent to Nurnberg academy in order to polish his skills of art. He spent four years at school and learnt a lot of important skills in artistry. At the end of these four years, he turned out to be a better artist even than his Professor.

After completing his studies, Albert returned home with an aim of supporting his brother for studies, but he was sad to find out his brother in the state of disability. His hands and fingers had been paralyzed. In the absence of Albert Durer, his brother had been working really hard in mines that his fingers had been damaged. In return to his brother's great loss, Albert decided to pay thanks and as a symbol of appreciation, Albert painted his brother's hand.

That was the initial step and after that, Durer's art started to excel. He started to portray goldsmith, music and mathematics in his art pieces. His art work contains religion, portraits specially self-portraits, copper and wood carvings etc.

Since Durer was trained as a goldsmith and painter, Durer turned out to be a skilled colorist, a designer, a typographer and an excellent engraver. Every single piece of Durer's art has depth of emotion and tremendous clarity. One would like to get closer to his work and lost in the depth of art.

Durer was undoubtedly a great artist, a famous mathematician, a remarkable philosopher, an excellent engraver and an extraordinary printmaker from Nuremberg (Germany). He is famous for exceptionally blending the Michelangelo's western drawings (sixteenth century), Raphael's art (eighteenth and nineteenth centuries), and art pieces of other famous artists. At an early age of thirteen, Durer created oldest recognized self-portrait paintings in European fine arts. He was one of the pioneers of stand-alone sceneries and landscapes. He is famous for converting local art of wood cutting into fine art of engraving.

Durer was a versatile artist and despite the fact that all of his work was highly valued, Durer's paintings, drawings, engraved designs, watercolors and carvings have their unique influence. The best of Durer's art pieces are placed in Innere Stadt museum of Vienna (Albertina), which is highly recognized by artists due to its most spectacular masterworks which include chiaroscuro sketches like The Praying Hands, watercolors like The Great Piece of Turf, an inspiring nature study of the Renaissance; and the remarkable Self-Portrait at Thirteen. (Mezzanine)

Albrecht Durer's Self-Portrait at 13 (COTTER)

National Gallery of Art at Washington DC acquired Durer's masterpieces from Albertina and hundred and eight art pieces are displayed in this art Gallery which clearly depicts Durer's major skill and talents including some of his best work.

An overpowering feeling of amazement overwhelms the observer while walking through two floor exhibition of Durer's masterpieces at this Art Gallery where intense eagerness energizes the gallery and leaves you in a shock while you pass by each of art work of Durer. It forces you to go off-balance by Durer's remarkable talent, integrity and innovation.

The National art Gallery Washington DC presents Durer's art work in a two level exhibit with fine written notes to each piece. The work evidently depicts and comprehends the complete scope of Durer's talent and artistry.

Durer drew his wife, Agnes, as St. Anne (COTTER)

The first room shows early work of Durer. You could see sceneries, landscapes, women portraits, gods, whores, hands and lions. Interesting part is "An Oriental Sovereign Settled on His Throne" a black ink pen-painting whose caretaker with his cruel eyes, extensive nose and curly hair, exactly resembles a lion.

Next to it are Durer's brown ink pen paintings hanging besides work of an Italian artist Andrea Mantegna. The German artist, Durer's work with extraordinary volume, rhythm and natural figure clearly surpasses the work of Italian painter, Mantegna.

Among the major transformations that Durer brought about in artistic designs, wood crafting is one of his best revolutions which he raised up from general craft. This extraordinary talent of Durer made him first worldwide renowned artist and one of the main propagators of Luther's Reformation.

The German artist was famous for his innovation and new ideas. When the art world was reborn, the primary focus was on paint colors and materials. Durer changed this concept and elevated the worth of drawings to be art pieces in their own right. He set the trend of writing date at his drawings and imprinting his signature on it raising them as a complete work of art. Durer also regularly revised his work, making reasonable amendments and documenting comments and scripting notes on them. His personal touches like these are highlighted in The National Art Gallery exhibiting a preview of the artist over the duration of his career.

The Great Piece of Turf (1503), an interesting feature of exhibition shows Durer's vehemence that nature should be described realistically. According to him any one who can understand nature as a piece of art can lead to the incarnation of artistic supremacy. The senior supervisor of art at National Art Gallery, Andrew Robinson says that the 3D art piece The Great Piece of Turf (1503) by Durer makes the observer feel that he is actually walking in that scenery. The extraordinary three dimensional effects added into the drawing are astonishing for that era. The art piece shows extraordinary work and innovation of artist to sketch such an amazing edge of grass.