Early Life and Career
Albrecht Altdorfer, a renowned German painter, engraver, and architect, was born in Regensburg, Bavaria, around 1480. His father,
Ulrich Altdorfer, a painter and miniaturist, likely influenced his interest in art from an early age.
Rise to Prominence
Altdorfer's artistic career gained momentum with the creation of small, intimate works in unconventional media. He settled in Regensburg in 1505, eventually becoming the town architect and a town councillor. His first signed works, including engravings and drawings like
Stygmata of St. Francis and
St. Jerome, date back to around 1506.
Contribution to the Danube School
Altdorfer is regarded as a main representative of the
Danube School, a circle that pioneered landscape as an independent genre in southern Germany. His travels down the Danube River and into the Alps in 1511 inspired him to become the first landscape painter in the modern sense, leading the Danube School.
Notable Works and Collaborations
*
The Battle of Alexander at Issus (1529) for Duke William IV of Bavaria
* Collaboration with Maximilian I in Innsbruck from 1513
* Influenced by artists like Giorgione and Lucas Cranach, as seen in his Crucifixion
Museum Collections and Legacy
* The
Museum Ostdeutsche Galerie (Germany) features Altdorfer's works, including
Madonna (Beautiful Maria of Regensburg)
* The
Kunstsammlungen Und Museen Augsburg (Austria) also showcases his art
* Altdorfer's legacy extends beyond his 55 panels, 120 drawings, and numerous engravings, with a lasting impact on the German Renaissance
Altdorfer's innovative approach to landscape painting has left an indelible mark on the art world, cementing his place as a pioneer of German Renaissance art.