Publisher's Synopsis
From the Author's PREFACE:
THE work of Albrecht Durer stands alone at least in one particular, - that, while it has challenged the admiration, it has baffled the curiosity, of centuries, and still excites speculation. In mysterious conception we look for the special characteristic of his art; and as to execution, the hand of man could do no more. One to whom the world listens-the great Goethe-has said: 'I honour daily more and more the work of a man which cannot be valued in gold and silver; of one who, when we know him thoroughly, has only the first Italians as his compeers in truth, sublimity, and even grace; but we will not say this aloud.' Even if this sentiment be not universally received, yet no one will deny to Durer the merit of the new revelation which he gave to the world.
It is unnecessary to recapitulate in a Preface the reflections which occur in this brief record of 'one of the simple great ones, gone for ever and ever by.'
The matter of the following pages has been chiefly obtained from a careful comparison of Mrs. Charles Heaton's second edition of her invaluable and interesting Life of Albrecht Durer with Professor Thausing's elaborate and exhaustive work, Durer, Geschichte seines Lebens und seiner Kunst. I have exercised my own judgment on matters where their conclusions differ, without entering at large into any of the numerous discussions, for which no doubt there is ample scope. I have not found any information elsewhere which was not to be obtained in these two biographies. The author of each has sketched the grand figure of Albrecht Durer with a loving and reverent hand, and exhibited a spirit capable of receiving the greatness of the truth which he taught by his work and in his life.
