Albrecht Durer was born into a large family of a jeweler, he had seventeen brothers and sisters. In the XV century, the profession of a jeweler was considered very respectful, so the father tried to teach his children the craft he was engaged in. But Albrecht’s talent for art appeared quite early in life, and his father did not dissuade him, on the contrary, at the age of 15 he sent his son to the famous Nuremberg master Michael Volgemut. After 4 years of training with the master, Dürer went to travel and at the same time painted his first independent painting, “Portrait of the Father”. During the trip, he honed his skills with different craftsmen in different cities. Consider the most famous paintings of Albrecht Durerrecognized by the international community.
10. Self portrait with holly
Self portrait with holly. This painting by Dürer caused a lot of condemnation, both among the contemporaries of the artist and among contemporary critics of painting. The thing is in the pose in which the author painted himself and the hidden message transmitted through the details. At the time of the artist, in full face or close to this, only saints could be drawn. The holly in the artist’s hand sends a message to the crown of thorns, which was laid on the head of Christ at the crucifixion. The inscription in the upper part of the canvas reads “My deeds are determined from above”, this is a reference to the author’s devotion to God, and that all his achievements at this stage of his life are with the blessing of the Lord. This picture, stored in the Louvre, is assessed as having introduced certain changes in the human worldview.
9. Self-portrait of Durer in adulthood
Self-portrait of Durer in adulthood. With age, Dürer went even further in reflecting his experiences on canvas. For this impudence, contemporaries brutally criticized the artist. On this canvas, he painted his self-portrait in full face. Whereas even more recognized contemporaries could not afford such impudence. In the portrait, the author looks strictly in front of him and holds his hand in the middle of the chest, which is characteristic of Christ's reflections. The ill-wishers found in Dürer’s painting all the similarities and reproached him for comparing himself with Christ. Looking at the picture, someone can agree with the critics, and someone can see something more. There are no objects attracting attention in the picture, which makes the contemplator concentrate on the image of a person. Those who saw the picture consider the gamut of feelings on the face and image of the person depicted.
8. Portrait of a Venetian
Portrait of a Venetian. The portrait painted in 1505 is considered the Venetian directed work of Dürer. It was during this period that he spent the second time in Venice and honed his skills with Giovanni Bellini, with whom he eventually became friends. Who is depicted in the portrait is not known; some suggest that it is a Venetian courtesan. Since there is no information about the artist’s marriage, there are no other versions about the person of the person who posed. The painting is stored in the Vienna Museum of Art and History.
7. Martyrdom of ten thousand Christians
Martyrdom of ten thousand Christians. The painting was commissioned by the patron saint of Dürer for the All Saints Church in Wittenberg. Due to the presence in the church of the relics of some martyrs of these ten thousand. A religious story familiar to many believers about the beating of Christian soldiers on Mount Ararat is reflected in all details. In the center of the composition, the author painted himself with a flag on which he wrote the time of writing and the author of the picture. Next to him is the friend of Dürer, the humanist Conrad Celtis, who died before the painting ended.
6. Feast of the rosary
The holiday is clear. Dürer's most recognizable painting was painted for the San Bartholomew Church in Italy. The artist painted this picture for several years. The picture is saturated with bright colors, since such a trend became popular at that time. The painting was named so because of the plot reflected in it, Dominican monks who used the rosary in their prayers. In the center of the picture is the Virgin Mary with the baby Christ in her arms. Surrounded by worshipers, including Pope Julian the second and Emperor Maximilian the first. Baby - Jesus gives out wreaths of roses to everyone. Dominican monks used beads of strictly white and red colors. The whites symbolize the joy of the Virgin, the red blood of Christ at the crucifixion.
5. Hands of the Prayer
Hands of the Prayer. Another very famous painting by Dürer was copied many times, printed on postcards, stamps and even coins. The history of the picture is striking in its symbolism. The canvas depicts, not just the hand of a pious man, but his brother Dürer. As a child, the brothers agreed to take turns painting, since fame and wealth from this craft did not come immediately and not to everyone, one of the brothers had to ensure the existence of the other. Albrecht was the first to take on the painting, and when his brother's turn came, his hands had already lost the habit of painting, he could not write. But Albrecht’s brother was a pious and humble man, he was not upset with his brother. These hands are reflected in the picture.
4. Portrait of Maximilian I
Portrait of Maximilian I. Dürer depicted his patron several times in different paintings, but the portrait of Maximilian the first became one of the world-famous paintings. The emperor is depicted, as befits the monarchs, rich robes, an arrogant look, the picture blows arrogance. As in other paintings of the artist there is a kind of symbol. The emperor holds a grenade in his hand, a symbol of abundance and immortality. A hint that it is he who provides the people with prosperity and fertility. The grains that are visible on the peeled piece of pomegranate are a symbol of the versatility of the emperor’s personality.
3. Knight, death and the devil
Knight, death and the devil. This engraving by Dürer symbolizes the path of a person through life. A knight in armor is a man protected by his faith from temptations. A nearby death is depicted with an hourglass in hand, indicating the outcome at the end of the allotted time. The devil goes behind the knight, depicted as some kind of miserable creature, but ready to attack him at the slightest opportunity. It all comes down to the eternal struggle between good and evil, fortitude before temptations.
2. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Dürer's most famous engraving of his 15 works on the theme of the Biblical Apocalypse. The Four Horsemen are Winner, War, Hunger and Death. The hell following them, on the engraving, is depicted as a beast with an open mouth. As in the legend, the riders rush about, sweeping away all the poor and rich, and the kings and common people on their way. A reference to what everyone deserves, and everyone will answer for sins.
1. Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Magi. The painting was painted during the return of Dürer from Italy. In the picture, German attention to detail and colorfulness intertwine, the brightness of colors characteristic of the Italian Renaissance. Attention to lines, mechanical subtleties and trifles makes reference to the sketch works of Leonardo Da Vinci. In this world-famous picture, the scene is described in some detail in Bible legends and transferred to the canvas in colors, it leaves the impression that this is exactly what happened.