Should exception be taken to the works chosen as illustrations, I would explain that the means of reproduction, the degree of reduction necessitated by the size of the page, and other outside considerations, have severely limited my choice. It is entirely owing to the extreme kindness of the Dürer Society--more especially of its courteous and enthusiastic secretaries, Mr. Campbell Dodgson and Mr. Peartree--that four copper-plates have so greatly enhanced the adequacy of the volume in this respect. I have gratefully to acknowledge Sir Martin Conway's kindness in permitting me to quote so liberally from his "Literary Remains of Albrecht Dürer," by far the best book on this great artist known to me. Mr. Charles Eaton's translation of Thausing's "Life of Dürer," the "Portfolios of the Dürer Society," and Dr. Lippmanb "Drawings of Albrecht Dürer," are the only other works on my subject to which I feel bound to acknowledge my indebtedness. Lastly, I must express deep gratitude to my learned friend, Mr. Campbell Dodgson, for having so generously consented, by reading the proofs, to mitigate my defect in scholarship. CONTENTS PREFACE PART I CONCERNING GENERAL IDEAS IMPORTANT TO THE COMPREHENSION OF DÜRER'S LIFE AND ART I. THE IDEA OF PROPORTION II THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION ON THE CREATIVE IMPULSE PART II DÜRER'S LIFE IN RELATION TO THE TIMES IN WHICH HE LIVED I. DÜRER'S ORIGIN, YOUTH, AND EDUCATION II. THE WORLD IN WHICH HE LIVED III. DÜRER AT VENICE IV. HIS PATRONS AND FRIENDS V. DÜRER, LUTHER, AND THE HUMANISTS VI. DÜRER'S JOURNEY TO THE NETHERLANDS VII. DÜRER'S LAST YEARS PART III DÜRER AS A CREATOR I. DÜRER'S PICTURES II. DÜRER'S PORTRAITS III. DÜRER'S DRAWINGS IV. DÜRER'S METAL ENGRAVINGS V. DÜRER'S WOODCUTS VI. DÜRER'S INFLUENCES AND VERSES PART IV DÜRER'S IDEAS I. THE IDEA OF A CANON OF PROPORTION FOR THE HUMAN FIGURE II. THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCILITY III. THE LAST TRADITION IV. BEAUTY V. NATURE VI. THE CHOICE OF AN ARTIST VII. TECHNICAL PRECEPTS VIII. IN CONCLUSION ILLUSTRATIONS