Durer's Lost Masterpiece: Art and Society at the Dawn of a Global World

Dürer's Lost Masterpiece explores the career of Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) and the turning point when he stopped painting altarpieces due to a dispute with a merchant patron. The book argues that merchants were crucial for the making of Renaissance art and its legacy for modern art, and brings to life Dürer's fight for creative makers to be adequately paid. It also explores the big questions about how European societies came to value the arts and crafts that remain relevant to our time.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 10 August 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Dürer's Lost Masterpiece delves into the captivating history of a pivotal moment in the illustrious career of the renowned German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). This remarkable work serves as a poignant tribute to Dürer's life, offering us a closer glimpse into the creation and profound significance of his paintings than ever before. Dürer's Lost Masterpiece explores the celebrated German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), his time, and his enduring legacy. It traces the history of a crucial and often overlooked turning point in his career, when Dürer ceased painting altarpieces after a disagreement with the Frankfurt merchant Jacob Heller regarding a commission. The story of this painting, known as Dürer's lost masterpiece, serves as a lens through which to examine the evolving relationship between art, collecting, and commerce in Europe during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a period characterized by expanding global trade and cultural exchanges. At the core of the book lies the compelling argument that merchants, and their distinct mentalities, played a vital role in shaping the development of Renaissance art and its enduring impact on modern art. This work is the result of a decade of extensive research, and it uniquely immerses readers in the rich emotional worlds of three merchants, each of whom exemplified the evolving dynamics between art and commerce during that entrepreneurial and often ruthless era. Through vivid storytelling, the book brings to life Dürer's unwavering struggle for creative makers to receive fair compensation and delves into the profound questions about how European societies came to appreciate and value the arts and crafts that continue to resonate with us today.

Weight: 1212g
Dimension: 199 x 256 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198873105