Besides the smaller block-books, almanacks, and broadsides of text, executed by wood engravers between 1460 and 1500, they also executed a number of single cuts, some accompanied with a few sentences of text also cut in wood, and others containing only figures. Many of the sacred subjects were probably executed for convents in honour of a favourite saint; while others were engraved by them on their own account for sale among the poorer classes of the people, who had neither the means to purchase, nor the ability to read, a large “picture-book” which contained a considerable portion of explanatory text. In almost every one of the works executed by the Briefmalers and Formschneiders subsequent to the invention of typography, there is scarcely a single cut to be found that possesses the least merit either in design or execution. They appear generally to have been mere workmen, who could draw and engrave figures on wood in a rude style, but who had not the slightest pretensions to a knowledge of art. Having now brought the history of wood engraving to the end of the fifteenth century, I shall here conclude the present chapter, without expressly noticing such works of Albert Durer as were certainly engraved on wood previous to the year 1500. The designs of this great promoter of wood engraving mark an epoch in the progress of the art; and will, with others of the same school, more appropriately form the subject of the next chapter. [Illustration] CHAPTER V. WOOD ENGRAVING IN THE TIME OF ALBERT DURER. Chiaro-Scuro Engraving on Wood -- A Copper-Plate by Mair Mistaken for the First Chiaro-Scuro -- Dotted Backgrounds in Old Wood-Cuts -- Albert Durer Probably Not a Wood-Engraver -- His Birth -- A Pupil of Michael Wolgemuth -- His Travels -- Cuts of the Apocalypse Designed by Him -- His Visit to Venice in 1506 -- The History of the Virgin and Christ’s Passion Engraved on Wood from his Designs -- His Triumphal Car and Triumphal Arch of the Emperor Maximilian -- His Invention of Etching -- His Carving -- Visit to the Netherlands -- His Death -- Wood-Cuts Designed by L. Cranach, H. Burgmair, and H. Schæfflein -- The Adventures of Sir Theurdank -- The Wise King -- The Triumphs of Maximilian -- Ugo Da Carpi -- Lucas Van Leyden -- William De Figuersnider -- Ursgraff -- Cuts Designed by Unknown Artists Between 1500 and 1528.