Art Guide · Painters
Albrecht Dürer
1471–1528
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) was the greatest master of the Northern Renaissance, known for his paintings, prints and extraordinarily detailed studies of nature such as the Young Hare.
Last updated: · Iconica Society editors
Life
The son of a goldsmith in Nuremberg, he learned fine craftsmanship in his father’s workshop. Trips to Italy in 1494–95 and 1505–07 brought the Renaissance understanding of perspective and proportion to the North. Thanks to his woodcuts and engravings, he became one of the first artists known across all of Europe.
Style and key works
Dürer turned observation into art with scientific precision. The Young Hare of 1502 is a watercolour and gouache study in which every hair is rendered individually; because it is sensitive to light, the Albertina in Vienna shows it only occasionally. The Self-Portrait of 1500 and engravings such as Melencolia I (1514) are among his best-known works.
Key works
Shop Albrecht Dürer posters →Frequently asked questions
Where is the Young Hare?
In the Albertina in Vienna; because it is light-sensitive, it is usually kept in storage and shown only for short periods.