Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Durer was one of the most influential and versatile artists of the Northern Renaissance. He was born in Nuremberg, where he received his initial training from his father, a goldsmith. He later apprenticed with the painter Michael Wolgemut, and also learned the art of printmaking. In 1494, he married Agnes Frey and established his own workshop in Nuremberg. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, especially Italy, where he was exposed to the works of classical and contemporary masters. He became known for his high-quality woodcuts and engravings, which combined realistic detail with expressive symbolism. He also produced many paintings, altarpieces, portraits, self-portraits, and watercolors. He was interested in various fields of knowledge, such as mathematics, geometry, perspective, anatomy, and proportion. He wrote several treatises on these topics, as well as on art theory and practice. He was patronized by Emperor Maximilian I and other prominent figures of his time. He died in 1528, possibly from a fever contracted during his journey to the Netherlands. He left behind a vast and diverse body of work that influenced generations of artists across Europe.