Albrecht Durer in the artistic paradigm of the german humanism

Abstract

The purpose of the article. By the works of the famous German artist and humanist Albrecht Durer, the authors suggest a modern view onto the formation of the humanistic worldview in the Northern Renaissance at the end of the XV-beginning of the XVI century. The article presents the characteristics of his artistic heritage in the context of the understanding of social, spiritual and aesthetic ideal. A methodology of the research is in the usage of applying of historical and cultural, systematic, biographical, cultural and theoretical and generalizing methods. Methods mentioned allow to disclose the dynamics of cultural and historical processes of the development of the Northern Renaissance, systematize separate phenomena of German culture at the end of the XV – beginning of the XVI centuries, to trace life and creative way by Albrecht Durer at the beginning of the reform movement in German, to comprehend the dynamics of general and cultural processes in Western Europe of the defined period and to make conclusions. Scientific novelty is determined by a full usage of the biographical method, relying on it the authors make the analysis of the artistic heritage by Albrecht Durer. His personal life, creative and epistolary legacy is an original realization of a humanistic ideal, the confirmation of the conception of a person’s dignity. Durer became the first German artist, acknowledged outside his Motherland. Conclusions. The analysis of his life way and artistic works by Albrecht Durer gives reasons to consider him a supporter of the Renaissance humanism. Being one of the most famous in his time humanists, Durer in many of his works defined aesthetic ideals of modernity, namely the ideal proportions of a human’s body. Primarily it is reflected in mythological scenes. As a theorist, Durer wrote a treatise in practical geometry and construction of fortifications. The late works by Albrecht Durer are marked by the influence of Luther theories as for the role of the church in the society. At the beginning of the XVI century, he concentrated on the usage of the light and tonal effects in the graphic arts. As a talented graphic artist, he created a lot of perfect graphic works. His works had a significant influence on the next generations of the artist in Europe. Albrecht Durer is one of the first artists and theorists of art in German, which was not only a famous master but a founder of a systemic approach in art. The authors consider Albrecht Durer not only a renowned artist but a brilliant representative of Germanhumanism.