The titan of the Western European Renaissance, the genius of the Renaissance, Albrecht Durer was one of the brightest stars in the sky of German painting. The greatest artist of the turn of the XV-XVI centuries became famous for his engravings on wood and copper; landscapes in watercolor and gouache, realistic living portraits. He became the first art theorist in history. Being a diversified person, Albrecht Durer created not just outstanding works, but intellectual masterpieces. Among them is the engraving "Melancholy" with its magic square.
The brilliant artist became famous for his self-portraits, in which both the skill and the unique plan of the author were concluded. During his life, Albrecht Dürer created at least 50 such works, but few have survived to our time. What is remarkable for the self-portraits of Dürer? Why do they still make enthusiastic admirers of his work tremble?
Self-portraits as a biography of Albrecht Durer
Biographers say that master Albrecht Dürer was an extremely attractive young man, and the love of self-portraits was partly connected with a vain desire to please people. However, this was not their true purpose. Dürer's self-portraits are a reflection of his inner world and views on art, the history of the evolution of intelligence and the development of artistic taste. On them you can trace the whole life of the artist. Each of its stages is a new work, strikingly different from the previous one. Dürer made self-portrait a separate genre in the visual arts, and his work as a whole became a living biography of the artist. They can sometimes tell more than any book.
The first self-portrait of a great artist
The first self-portrait of Albrecht Durer was created in 1484. Then the artist was only thirteen years old, but he already knew how to correctly transmit proportions and perfectly owned a silver pin. To them, young Albrecht first drew the contours of his face. This tool leaves a silver mark on primed paper. Over time, it acquires a brown tint. It is almost impossible to erase it from a sheet without damaging the soil. Thirteen-year-old Albrecht, however, painted a portrait for them, the creation of which would have caused difficulties even for a seasoned artist of that time.
In the figure, the young Dürer looks thoughtful and at the same time strict. His gaze is full of sadness and determination. A hand gesture speaks of an irreconcilable desire to achieve your goal - to become a great master of his craft. Once the father of Albrecht, saw the work of his son. Durer's first self-portrait struck a talented jeweler. Father always wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, but appreciating the work of Albrecht, he sent him to study at the workshop of the artist Michael Volgemut. There the young Dürer learned the basics of painting and engraving.
Early self portrait by pen
At the end of the training, each artist, according to the tradition of that time, went on a journey. Traveling, he had to gain experience from masters from distant lands. Albrecht Dürer also went along this path. The self-portrait he painted while traveling in Europe was made in a completely different manner. It shows the ability of a young artist to reflect on paper the inner state of the human soul. This time, Durer used a pen, and his mood was different. In the picture "Self-portrait with a bandage" Albrecht's face is full of torment and naked pain. It is covered with wrinkles, which make the image more gloomy. The cause of the torment is not known for certain, but there is no doubt that they took place.
Self Portrait, 1493
By the end of his wanderings, Albrecht overtook the news of his imminent marriage. Then, in the XV century, parents themselves chose a couple for their children. Albrecht father found a bride from a noble Nuremberg family. The young artist did not mind marrying Agnes Frey. There is a point of view that it was on the occasion of such an event that Dürer wrote "Self-portrait with a thistle." In those days it was considered the norm that future spouses met right at the wedding, so the young artist decided to make a special gift for his future wife.
The portrait of Albrecht is 22 years old. The young man fixed his gaze into the distance. He is focused and thoughtful. Albrecht’s eyes are a little squint due to the fact that he led the work on the portrait, looking at himself in the mirror. In the hands of the artist holds a thistle. He became the subject of controversy between fans of Dürer.
Controversy over Self Portrait with Thistle
The equivalent of the word "thistle" in German is männertreu, which literally translates as "male fidelity." This clearly indicates that the self-portrait was intended for Agnes Frey. However, opponents of this point of view argue that the thistle is a symbol of the passions of Christ, and the thorns of the plant represent the torment of Jesus. In addition, Dürer wrote in a self-portrait: "The Most High manages my affairs." And this also clearly indicates that this picture is an expression of the artist's humility and devotion to God, and not a gift to his future wife. However, only Dürer himself knew the truth.
Italian work, 1498
The next work of master Albrecht in the genre of self-portrait is already in Italy. The artist always wanted to go to this country and get acquainted with the unique tradition of Italian painting. The young wife and her family did not support the idea of travel, but the plague epidemic that swept Nuremberg made the welcome trip possible. Dürer was struck by a bright riot of colors of Italian landscapes. He portrayed nature with incredible clarity for that time. Dürer became the first landscape painter in the history of art. His ideal was now the correct image, consistent with nature and geometry. The creative atmosphere of Italy helped him accept himself as an innovative artist. And this is fully reflected in his Italian self-portrait.
It depicts a self-confident person who has realized his calling, the mission of the creator of the beautiful and the creed of the thinker. That was Dürer. A self-portrait, the description of which allows us to judge the changes in his self-consciousness, is among the most famous works of the artist. Dürer on it is full of dignity. His posture is straight and his gaze expresses confidence. Albrecht is richly dressed. His carefully curled hair flows over his shoulders. And in the background of the self-portrait you can see the Italian landscape - the pure inspiration of the artist.
Four temperaments
Durer's next work fully reflects his nature as a thinker, as well as his desire for self-knowledge. The self-portrait is dedicated to the Greek doctrine of the four temperaments. According to him, people are divided into sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic. On the engraving "Men's Bath" the great artist embodied every type of temperament in an individual person. Dürer considered himself a melancholy. This was once reported to him by an unknown astrologer. It can be assumed that it is in this role that he is captured on the engraving. The artist portrayed himself as a flutist entertaining his friends.
"Self-portrait in the image of Christ", 1500
Durer returned from Italy not as a timid student, but as a master of his craft. In his homeland, Albrecht received many orders that brought him fame. His work was already known outside of his native Nuremberg, and the artist himself put his business on a commercial basis. At the same time, a new century was approaching, the onset of which was to be marked by the end of the world. The intense period of eschatological expectation had a significant impact on the masters of Albrecht. And in 1500 there was the most famous work that Dürer created - "Self-portrait in the image of Christ."
He captured himself full-face, which was unthinkable courage in the XVI century. All portraits of that time were distinguished by one common feature: ordinary people were always depicted in half-turn, and only Jesus was an exception. Dürer was the first artist to violate this unspoken prohibition. A piercing look, wavy hair, perfect face proportions really make him look like Christ. Even the hand, captured at the bottom of the canvas, is folded in a gesture typical of the holy father. The colors in the picture are reserved. Against the background of black, red, white and brown shades, the face of the artist stands out clearly. Dressed in robes trimmed with fur, master Albrecht seemed to compare himself with a creator who, with a chisel and brush, creates his own special, mysterious and unique world.
Religious Self Portrait
Subsequent self-portraits of Dürer had a pronounced religious character. The 16th century was full of shocks related to the realization of the role of God in the life of a simple person. A feasible contribution to this issue was made by Martin Luther, who tried to convey the essence of Christian teaching to people. And Dürer wrote numerous religious compositions. Among them are the Feast of the Rosary and the Adoration of the Holy Trinity. On them Dürer is not only a master, but also a participant in sacred actions. In this way, he paid tribute to devotion to God.
The most outspoken self portrait
Religious subtext is one of the most controversial and mysterious works of the artist - "Self-portrait naked." Albrecht Durer portrayed himself in the image of Christ the Martyr. This is evidenced by a thin face, a haggard body, a posture reminiscent of Jesus during a scourging. Even the fold of skin depicted by the artist over his right thigh can have symbolic meaning. There was one of the wounds received by Christ.
The drawing is done with a pen and a brush on tinted green paper. The exact time for creating the self-portrait is unknown, but based on the age of the artist in the picture, it can be assumed that he painted it in the first decade of the 16th century. It is reliably known that the author kept the work at home and did not present it to the general public. Not a single artist before and after him portrayed himself completely naked. A drawing shocking with its frankness can hardly be found in publications devoted to art.
Latest self-portraits of Albrecht Durer
Subsequent self-portraits of Dürer predicted his imminent death. In the Netherlands, he was struck by a strange ailment, of which at that time no one had any idea. Now historians can only assume that this was malaria. The artist had problems with the spleen, which he clearly indicated on the self-portrait "Dürer - Sick" with a yellow spot. He sent this drawing to his doctor and wrote him a short message. It said that the place where the yellow spot is depicted causes pain. Reflection of the physical condition of the artist and the continuation of the religious theme was "Self-portrait in the image of the suffering Christ." It depicts Dürer, tormented by an unknown ailment and spiritual discord, the cause of which, perhaps, was the reformation and related events.
He soon died, leaving the greatest legacy of his time to his descendants. Dürer's self-portraits stored in the most famous galleries in the world, such as the Louvre in Paris and the Prado in Madrid, still amaze with their inner strength and almost mystical beauty.