In 1516, Albrecht Dürer, a famous German painter and printmaker known for revolutionizing printmaking as an independent art form, painted a portrait of his teacher Michael Wolgemut. The painting is currently located in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, Germany. Wolgemut was a renowned German painter and printmaker who taught Dürer before he elevated printmaking as an independent art form.
The portrait depicts Wolgemut at the age of 82 with precise detail, showcasing Dürer’s mastery of portraiture techniques. Wolgemut was the head of a large workshop in Nuremberg where he taught various artists including Dürer. In addition to being an exceptional teacher, he also had a successful career creating artwork himself.
Dürer was trained by his father growing up and apprenticed under Wolgemut to learn other traditional techniques like silverpoint at the age of 13. This early self-portrait showcases Dürer’s talent even from a young age. Overall, this portrait holds great historical and artistic value as it highlights both artist’s contributions to the field and their personal relationship during this important period in art history.
