The early Dürer

Painter, engraver, designer of woodcuts, and major art theorist, AlbrechtDürer (1471-1528) is Germany's most famous artist. This new study,published in association with the Germanisches Nationalmuseum inNuremberg, focuses on his early art and the circumstances of theyoung painter's life that enabled his unique work.Dürer is resituated in the artistic context of his time, at an excitingcrossroad between the imitation of traditional painting and the selfconsciousrenewal of his profession. Eighteen essays explore his backgroundand the influences on his life and work, from his goldsmithfather to his travels in Germany and his stays in Italy to his role asarchetype of the modern artist. Hundreds of color illustrations of theearly work, many reproduced here for the first time, help establish anew basis for a modern understanding of the artist.