Title: Albrecht%20D
1Albrecht Dürer
2A Self-portrait
- Born May 21, 1471
- Nuremburg, Germany
- Died April 5, 1528
- At one time, was claimed to be the greatest
artist in all of Europe!
3Dürer was an artist in many ways
- During his 57 years, he created over 100
paintings,
4- more than 1,000 etchings and engravings,
an engraving of an Astronomer from the title
page of a book
1524 copper etching of Frederick the Wise
5many woodcuts, only 3 dry points, and lots of
drawings.
drypoint, The Holy Family, 1512
- a woodcut titled,
- The Adoration of the Magi,
- 1511
The Hare drawing by Albrecht Durer
6Not only was he an artist, but an author,
scholar, and mathematician, as well. Albrecht
wrote several books based on his knowledge of
perspective and geometry.
A book on measurement
A book on human proportion
Durers mathematical explanation of a cone
7Dürer could even draw animals hed NEVER seen
before!
Text
A Rhinoceros (pen and ink drawing, 1515) Dürer's
pen drawing of this Indian rhinoceros is a
typical example of his interest in animals. The
image of the rhinoceros is based on some notes
and a sketch by an unknown artist. He never saw
the actual creature in real life!
8Dürer was one of the first artists to view
animals as a subject worthy of attention.
- At the beginning of the 16th century, the natural
world of animals and plants was becoming a focus
of interest as explorers and travelers were
returning from distant lands with examples and
illustrations of new species. Dürer shared this
fascination with animals and nature which he
revealed in many of his drawings, watercolors and
prints.
9Albrecht Dürer, Master of Detail
- Look at the detail of the lions face, fur, and
claws.
10What details do you see?
11A Closer Look...
The Knight, Death, the Devil
12Sheet of Studies with Sketches of Animals and
Landscapes 1521Pen and black ink with colored
washes
13Other famous drawings by Albrecht Dürer
The Praying Hands
Study of two feet, c. 1508
The Study of Three Hands, 1494-95
14Self-portrait at 13 years old
- Albrecht grew up in his fathers goldsmith shop,
learning to make fine jewelry in tiny detail. He
spent most of his adult life traveling around
Europe painting and learning. In all his works of
art, Dürer demonstrated his excellent powers of
observation with a quality almost like taking a
picture!
15Time-out for Writing
- Later, for our hands-on project, we are going to
try to do what Albrecht Dürer did before the
first photograph. We are going to draw an animal
using only someone elses WORDS! Crazy, right?
We like crazy and the kids whove tried it so far
think its fab. - But first, we need YOU to write a description of
an animal for someone else to draw! Your secret
animal will be revealed to the student artist
AFTER their drawing is done. - Now get ready to describe an animal with WORDS!
- Your animal may be imaginary or real. Make sure
to describe all the parts you can think of.
Think about legs, skin, teeth, fins, horns,
tails, eyelashes, claws, webbed feet, fur - how
does it look and how does it feel? Please return
this postcard to your awesome Picture Person.