Albrecht Altdorfer: 80 Drawings

Albrecht Altdorfer was the Northern Renaissance German painter, etcher, engraver, draughtsman and architect, active mainly in Regensburg. He is best known for his paintings of historical and Biblical subjects, set in atmospheric landscapes, such as Battle of Alexander at Issus (1529, Alte Pinakothek, Munich) and Christ Taking Leave of His Mother (1520, National Gallery, London). Influenced by Italian Old Masters like Andrea Mantegna (1431-1406), as well as by other Northern Renaissance artists like Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553), and the woodcuts and engravings of Albrecht Durer (1471-1528).

Altdorfer was also an influential member of the Danube School (Donauschule) of landscape painting. Appointed town architect of Regensburg in his mid-40s, few of his architectural designs survive, although his mastery of linear perspective is evident in many of his pictures.

His architectural paintings include works like the Italianate A Susanna and the Elders (1526, Alte Pinakothek, Munich) and the topographical Danube Landscape with Castle (c.1520, Alte Pinakothek, Munich).

His later canvases owed more to the new style of Mannerism.