Albrecht Dürer

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) trained as a goldsmith under his father, and became acquainted with painting and engraving at Michael Wolgemut’s workshop. He rounded off his education with a journey to Italy where he witnessed the innovations of the Renaissance first-hand. When he returned, he settled in his native Nuremberg and introduced the latest ideas to northern Europe. He wrote about human anatomy and ideal proportions, for example. He also played a key part in developing the art of engraving. He employed a delicate crosshatching technique in his engravings and woodcuts that enabled him to suggest volume and grey tones, a method which was emulated by artists throughout Europe.