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 powerful 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.

Albrecht became an early and enthusiastic follower of Martin Luther. This new faith can be sensed in the growing austerity in style and subject of his Durer paintings representing religious works after 1520. The climax to this trend is masterfully represented by The Four Holy Men, which was completed in 1526.

A monumental print project among Durer paintings is represented by The Triumphal Arch. It was 330 cm or 11" high and composed of 192 woodblocks. It remains to be the largest woodcut print ever made to this day. Emperor Maximilian, who commissioned the huge print, granted Albrecht a pension of 100 florins, which was subsequently stopped upon the Emperor's death in 1519.

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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