Albrecht Durer Gallery

Durers Celestial Globe, 1515

Durer's Celestial Globe, 1515. This shows the northern hemisphere, and was prepared in conjunction with the astronomer Stabius. Four astronomers are shown in the corners: Aratus Cilis; Ptolomaeus Aegyptius; Maniliusromanus; and Azophi Arabus (al Sufi). Albrecht Durer (1471- 1528) produced the first printed star charts in 1515. One chart, or planisphere, showed all the northern constellations; the other depicted the southern hemisphere. The positions of the stars were exactly fixed (according to Ptolemey's catalogue) and the figures were artistically portrayed, in a classical style. Durer also chose to illustrate the constellations that would appear on a globe as if seen from space. Taken from The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Durer by Dr Willi Kurth (1936)

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Melencolia I, 1514. Creator: Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528)

Melencolia I, 1514. Although the title indentifies the subject as melancholy, the means by which Durer demonstrates this emotional state is complex, making Melencolia I the most analyzed and discussed of Durer's works. Durer personifies melancholy as a formidable female--her power originates in her ability to alter a man's temperament into a melancholic state. Immobilized by her lack of creativity, the winged goddess sits dispiritedly surrounded by the tools and instruments she has lost the inspiration to use. Among intellectuals, melancholy was often associated with introspective, educated people, even genius. Because artists were especially prone to melancholy, this image has been interpreted as Durer's spiritual self-portrait, implying that the artist identified with her creative plight

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Nuremberg, Germany - interior of Albrecht Durers house

Nuremberg, Germany - the library room of Albrecht Durer's house, a timber frame (fachwerkhaus) building located in the Altstadt (old town) section of Nuremberg. The Renaissance artist Albrecht Durer purchased the house in 1509 and lived there until his death in 1528. In 1871 the house opened as a museum dedicated to the artist's work.
circa 1910s

© The Roseries Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library