The Impact of the Italian and Northern Renaissance on Albrecht Dürer the Younger

Self-Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Six (1498)

Essay , 2016 , 17 Pages , Grade: 1,30

Art - History of Art

This essay scrutinises the wide range of influences on Albrecht Dürer the Younger (1471-1528) by analysing the artist’s "Self-Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Six" (1498).
After briefly introducing the artist, it examines the aesthetic impact of the Italian Renaissance and humanist thought on the painting. In a next step, it demonstrates how Dürer’s artwork is also inspired by Northern portraiture.
Moreover, the discussion will be embedded in the cultural and historical context in which the painting was created by underlining the special status of Nuremberg and Venice in the late 15th century.

Work completed under the supervision of Dr Flavio Boggi, University College Cork, 2018.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Impact of the Italian Renaissance
• The Impact of Northern Portraiture
• Dürer's Self-Portrait as a Product of His Time
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines the various influences on Albrecht Dürer's Self-Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Six (1498), analyzing the impact of the Italian Renaissance, Northern portraiture, and the cultural and historical context in which the painting was created.

• The impact of the Italian Renaissance on Dürer's artistic development
• The influence of Northern portraiture on Dürer's Self-Portrait
• Dürer's position as a member of the intellectual and social élite
• The significance of Nuremberg as a centre of humanism
• The unique visual language of Dürer's Self-Portrait, merging Italian and Northern styles

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The introduction establishes the context for analyzing Dürer's Self-Portrait, highlighting the artist's early training and exposure to Northern art through masters like Michael Wolgemut and Martin Schongauer.
• The second section explores the influence of the Italian Renaissance on Dürer's Self-Portrait, discussing the use of geometrical forms, spatial divisions, and perspective, comparing Dürer's work to that of Leonardo da Vinci.
• This chapter examines the impact of Northern portraiture on Dürer's Self-Portrait, analyzing the composition, the portrayal of the sitter, and the artist's unique style that combines both Italian and Northern influences.
• The final chapter discusses the cultural and historical context of Dürer's Self-Portrait, highlighting the importance of Nuremberg as a center of humanism and trade and Dürer's own connections to humanist thought and artistic theory.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This essay focuses on key terms and concepts such as the Italian Renaissance, Northern portraiture, humanist thought, Nuremberg, Venetian art, self-portraiture, artistic theory, and the relationship between art and social status.

• College: University College Cork
• Grade: 1,30
• Author: Christina Haupt (Author)
• Publication Year: 2016
• Pages: 17
• Catalog Number: V370262
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668476349
• ISBN (Book): 9783668476356
• Language: English
• Tags: Albrecht Dürer, Self-Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Six, Northern Renaissance, Nuremberg, Humanism