Albrecht Dürer (1471, Nürnberg - 1528)
Painter, draftsman, etcher, humanist, scientist, Dürer was the first artist in Germany who began to study mathematics and mechanics, construction and fortification work, he was the first in Germany tried to apply the art of their scientific knowledge in the field of perspective and proportion, and he was the only German artist 16 century, leaving behind a literary legacy. The extraordinary artistry, breadth of interests, the diversity of knowledge can put Albrecht Durer on a par with such famous Renaissance masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael.

The founder of German Renaissance art. In the stress-expressive forms of fantastic images embodied the expectation of world-historical change (a series of engravings of the Apocalypse, 1498), expressed his humanist ideas about the meaning of existence and problems of art (so-called. Engraving workshops, 1513-14). Created a full strength and energy images of the human Reformation era ("Portrait of a Young Man, 1521, diptych" Four Apostles ", 1526), people from the people (engraving" Three peasant "). Known as a fine, observant draftsman (over 900 pictures). Art theorist ("Four books of human proportions", 1528).

Son of silversmiths, a native of Hungary. He studied first with his father, then at the Nuremberg painter and engraver Michael Wolgemut (1486-90). Mandatory to obtain the title of master of "years of wandering" (1490-94) held in the cities of the Upper Rhine (Basel, Colmar, Strasbourg), which entered the circle of humanists and book printers. In Colmar, not finding in living M. Schongauer, who intended to improve the technique engraving on metal, and studied his work, talking with his sons, also artists. Returning in 1494 in Nuremberg, he married Agnes Frey, and opened his own workshop. Soon went on another journey, this time in northern Italy (1494-95, Venice and Padua). In 1505-07 was again in Venice. Acquainted in 1512 with the Emperor Maximilian I, probably, but then began to work for him (until his death in 1519). In 1520-21 visited the Netherlands (Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Malines, and other cities). Worked in Nuremberg.

Creative way Durer coincided with the culmination of the German Renaissance, complicated, largely disharmonic nature of which left its mark on all of his art. It accumulates the wealth and originality of German artistic traditions, constantly manifesting themselves in the guise of characters Durer, far from the classical ideal of beauty, in preference Distinguishing, for attention to individual detail. At the same time essential to Durer had contact with Italian art, the secret of harmony and perfection of which he tried to comprehend. He - the only master of the northern Renaissance, which focus and diversity of their interests, the desire to master the laws of art, design perfect proportions of the human figure and the rules of perspective construction may be associated with the greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance.

Durer was equally gifted as a painter, printmaker and draftsman, drawing and engraving takes him a lot, sometimes even leading role. Legacy of Durer-painter, has more than 900 sheets of vastness and diversity can be compared only with the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci. Drawing was apparently part of everyday life master. He brilliantly mastered all the then known graphic techniques - from the silver pin and a cane to the Italian pen pencil, charcoal, watercolors. As for the masters of Italy, drawing became his most important stage of work on the song, which include sketches, Stude heads, arms, legs and draperies. This learning tool characteristic types - peasants, dressed gentlemen, Nuremberg fashionistas. His famous watercolor "A piece of turf," and "Hare" (Albertina, Vienna) are satisfied with such a close and the chilly detachment that could illustrate scientific codes.