Albrecht Dürer

Born in 1471 as the son of a goldsmith in Nuremberg, he learned the basics of goldsmithing from his father before apprenticing with Michael Wolgemut to master printmaking and painting.¹

His self-portrait in silverpoint, drawn at age 13, is one of the oldest surviving child drawings, showing his early self-awareness as an artist.¹

From 1490, he spent four years on his 'Wanderjahre,' visiting workshops across regions, including that of Martin Schongauer, to build his artistic foundation.¹

In 1494, he entered an arranged marriage with Agnes Frey. They had no children, and his letters suggest their relationship was not always harmonious.¹

During his first trip to Venice in 1494, he was influenced by Giovanni Bellini, leading him to fuse Northern Gothic traditions with Italian Renaissance anatomy and perspective.¹

He revolutionized woodcut techniques, elevating printmaking to a fine art. His meticulous line work and tonal range established his reputation across Europe in his twenties.¹

From 1512, he served as court painter to Emperor Maximilian I, working on large-scale projects like massive woodcuts to symbolize imperial authority.¹