In the great earnestness with which the difficulties that beset art and the artist impressed him, Dürer intended to write a _Vade Mecum_ for those who should come after him. He has left among his MS. papers many plans, rough drafts, and notes for some such work, the form of which no doubt changed from time to time. The one which gives us the most comprehensive idea of his intentions is perhaps the following. II Ihs. Maria By the grace and help of God I have here set down all that I have learnt in practice, which is likely to be of use in painting, for the service of all students who would gladly learn. That, perchance, by my help they may advance still further in the higher understanding of such art, as he who seeketh may well do, if he is inclined thereto; for my reason sufficeth not to lay the foundations of this great, far-reaching, infinite art of true painting. Item.--In order that thou mayest thoroughly and rightly comprehend what is, or is called, an "artistic painter," I will inform thee and recount to thee. If the world often goeth without an "artistic painter," whilst for two or three hundred years none such appeareth, it is because those who might have become such devote not themselves to art. Observe then the three essential qualities following, which belong to the true artist in painting. These are the three main points in the whole book. I. The First Division of the book is the Prologue, and it compriseth three parts (A, B, and C). A. The first part of the Prologue telleth us how the lad should be taught, and how attention should be paid to the tendency of his temperament. It falleth into six parts: 1. That note should be taken of the birth of the child, in what Sign it occurreth; with some explanations. (Pray God for a lucky hour!) 2. That his form and stature should be considered; with some explanations. 3. How he ought to be nurtured in learning from the first; with some explanations. 4. That the child should be observed, whether he learneth best when kindly praised or when chidden; with explanations. 5. That the child be kept eager to learn and be not vexed. 6. If the child worketh too hard, so that he might fall under the hand of melancholy, that he be enticed therefrom by merry music to the pleasuring of his blood. B. The second part of the Preface showeth how the lad should be brought up in the fear of God and in reverence, that so he may attain grace, whereby he may be much strengthened in intelligent art. It falleth into six parts: 1. That the lad be brought up in the fear of God and be taught to pray to God for the grace of quick perception (_ubtilitet_) and to honour God. 2. That he be kept moderate in eating and drinking, and also in sleeping. 3. That he dwell in a pleasant house, so that he be distracted by no manner of hindrance.