Albrecht Altdorfer

Key facts

Lived

1480–1538, German

Movement

• Northern Renaissance

Works held in

21 museums^[1]

• Abraham's Sacrifice

  National Gallery of Art

  Washington, D.C., United States

  322 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• Penitent Hieronymus

  Gemäldegalerie Berlin

  Berlin, Germany

  9 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• The Victory of Charlemagne over the Avars near Regensburg

  Germanisches Nationalmuseum

  Nuremberg, Germany

  7 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• Beheading of St. Catherine

  Kunsthistorisches Museum

  Maria-Theresien-Platz, Austria

  7 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• The Holy Family at a Fountain

  Metropolitan Museum of Art

  New York City, United States

  6 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• The Martyrdom of Saint Florian

  Uffizi Gallery

  borough 1, Italy

  3 works

  

  Museum detailsMap

Plan your visit to see Albrecht Altdorfer →

• What is Albrecht Altdorfer's most famous work?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer's most famous painting is likely *The Battle of Alexander at Issus*, produced in 1529. It is part of a series of paintings commissioned by William IV, Duke of Bavaria, for his Munich residence. The painting depicts the 333 BC Battle of Issus between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. The picture is known for its dramatic aerial perspective, its almost cosmic presentation of the battle, and its unusual subject matter. Rather than focusing on the individual figures of Alexander and Darius, Altdorfer presented the battle as a vast, almost abstract, conflict played out under an expressive sky. The landscape is not topographically accurate; instead, it is an imagined view of the Mediterranean. *The Battle of Alexander at Issus* is in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It has been reproduced and interpreted many times. Its fame rests on its singular artistic vision, its break from traditional battle painting, and its innovative approach to both perspective and subject matter.
• What should I know about Albrecht Altdorfer's prints?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480-1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and architect. He is associated with the Danube School of painting, and is known for his landscape settings. Altdorfer's prints are a small, but important, part of his output. He produced woodcuts and engravings, with the former being more numerous. His woodcuts often feature dense, expressive lines. They display his skill in manipulating the medium to create atmospheric effects. Many of his prints are small in scale. His early prints show religious subjects and figure compositions. Later, he concentrated on pure landscapes. "The Beautiful Virgin of Regensburg" (c. 1519) is one of his notable woodcuts. It combines religious imagery with a view of the city. Altdorfer’s engravings are fewer in number than his woodcuts. They include portraits and ornamental designs. Although printmaking was not the central focus of Altdorfer's career, his contributions to the medium are significant. They demonstrate his creativity and technical ability. His prints are valued for their artistic quality and historical importance. They provide insight into the development of printmaking in the German Renaissance.
• What style or movement did Albrecht Altdorfer belong to?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer (circa 1480-1538) is associated with the German Renaissance, specifically the Danube School. This grouping is more a regional style than a formal movement. It refers to artists working near the Danube River in the early 16th century. Key characteristics of the Danube School include an interest in naturalism, expressive colour, and atmospheric perspective. Artists often depicted dense forests and dramatic light effects. The human figure is frequently secondary to the natural setting. These artists moved away from classical ideals, favouring emotional expression. Altdorfer's work is noted for its combination of religious, historical, and imaginative subjects. His famous painting, *The Battle of Alexander at Issus* (1529), demonstrates his skill in depicting vast, panoramic scenes. He was also an accomplished printmaker, creating woodcuts and engravings. These prints, often small in scale, allowed for the wider distribution of his artistic ideas. Altdorfer's style influenced other artists in the region and contributed to the development of German Renaissance art.
• What techniques or materials did Albrecht Altdorfer use?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer, a central figure in the Danube School, employed a variety of techniques and materials in his art. His early works consist mainly of prints and drawings, but he also produced paintings. Altdorfer's first signed painting is the *Satyr Family* (1507). His *St George in a Wood* (1510) is executed on parchment affixed to a panel. He created two independent landscapes on parchment also pasted on panel: the *Landscape with Footbridge* and the *Landscape with Castle*. A third, now lost, is known from a description in an 1783 catalogue. He also worked with watercolour and gouache on paper, often with pen-and-ink underdrawings. Examples include the *Landscape with Sunset* (circa 1522). A similar work, *Landscape with Tree and Town* (1525), is attributed to a follower of Altdorfer. Beyond painting and drawing, Altdorfer designed for stained glass. He also worked, with assistants, on commissions for Emperor Maximilian I, including a presentation copy in watercolour on vellum of *The Triumph of Emperor Maximilian*.
• What was albrecht altdorfer known for?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480-1538) was a painter and printmaker of the German Renaissance, active in Regensburg, Bavaria. He is remembered as a principal figure of the Danube School, along with Wolf Huber. The Danube School were known for their interest in nature, especially forests and mountains. They favoured dramatic, emotionally charged compositions, and experimented with perspective and lighting. Altdorfer's earliest works show the influence of Lucas Cranach the Elder and Albrecht Dürer. His first signed painting is *Satyr Family* (1507). From 1509 to 1516, he worked on an altarpiece for Saint Florian Abbey, Austria, with scenes of the Passion of Christ. Around 1513-16, he worked with assistants on a presentation copy of *The Triumph of Emperor Maximilian*. Between 1518 and 1522, he produced milestone etchings that were some of the earliest landscape prints without figures. In 1526, he became city architect of Regensburg. In 1529, he completed *The Battle of Alexander at Issos*.
• When did Albrecht Altdorfer live and work?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer was probably born around 1480 in Regensburg. His father, Ulrich Altdorfer, was an engraver who relocated around 1491. Albrecht became a citizen of Regensburg in 1505, where he spent much of his career. He may have travelled to Vienna around 1511, and was there on official business in 1535. Altdorfer died in Regensburg in 1538. Altdorfer was a principal figure in the Danube School, a group of artists known for their nature imagery. His earliest works show the influence of Lucas Cranach the Elder and Albrecht Dürer. His painting *Satyr Family* dates to 1507. From 1509 to 1516, he worked on an altarpiece for Saint Florian Abbey, Austria. Around 1513-16, he worked for Emperor Maximilian I, executing a presentation copy of *The Triumph of Emperor Maximilian*. He was also an architect for the city of Regensburg, and became a member of the city council in 1517. In 1529, he completed *The Battle of Alexander at Issos*.
• Where can I see Albrecht Altdorfer's work?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer, a painter, printmaker, and architect, was active in Regensburg in the early 16th century. He is considered a principal figure in the Danube School, a group of artists known for their interest in nature. Several museums hold examples of Altdorfer's paintings, drawings, and prints. The Alte Pinakothek in Munich possesses his famous painting *The Battle of Alexander at Issos*. Other paintings can be found at the Kunsthalle in Bremen. Fourteen panels from his Saint Florian Altarpiece (circa 1509-1516) remain in situ at the Augustinian Monastery of St Florian, Austria; two more are in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Drawings by Altdorfer are in the Kupferstichkabinett in Berlin, the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. The National Gallery in London holds *Landscape with Footbridge*. However, some works, such as *Landscape with Church*, formerly in the Museum Boymans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, have been lost.
• Where was Albrecht Altdorfer from?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer was probably born in Regensburg around 1480-1485. His father, Ulrich Altdorfer, was a painter and print illuminator active in Regensburg. Ulrich was registered as a citizen there in 1478, but left the city in poverty around 1491. Albrecht returned to Regensburg, and in 1505 he was registered as a citizen. The record describes him as a "painter from Amberg", a court city to the north. However, there is no record of either Albrecht or Ulrich as citizens of Amberg between 1491 and 1505. It is possible Albrecht worked temporarily in Amberg before returning to Regensburg. Altdorfer spent much of his life in Regensburg, becoming a citizen in 1505. He was a member of the city council from 1517, and of the Inner Council from 1526. He was also the city architect, and in 1535 he was sent to Vienna on official business. He died in Regensburg in 1538.
• Who did Albrecht Altdorfer influence?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer's influence is complex, partially because his artistic interests were diverse. He is known for small-scale, highly detailed paintings, often with expressive colour. He also made prints; these circulated his ideas to a wider audience. Later artists were affected by his approach to natural settings. Altdorfer's depictions of forests and other wild places, such as in "St George and the Dragon" (1510), moved away from being mere backgrounds. Instead, the setting became an active participant in the narrative. This is especially true of his Danube school works. His influence can be seen in the work of artists who followed, particularly in their treatment of natural forms. Later Swiss artists, such as Anton Graff (1736-1813), were clearly inspired by Altdorfer's expressive use of light and shadow. Similarly, his compositional techniques appear in the work of other German artists throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. However, direct lines of influence are hard to establish with certainty, due to the passage of time and the diffusion of artistic ideas.
• Who influenced Albrecht Altdorfer?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer, a significant figure in German Renaissance art, developed his style through exposure to various artistic influences. As an engraver and painter in Bavaria, he probably saw the work of artists in Augsburg and Nuremberg. Some scholars suggest connections between Altdorfer and older masters. For example, his treatment of light has been linked to the work of Lucas Cranach the Elder. Parallels exist between Altdorfer's landscapes and those of Jorg Breu the Elder. Breu worked primarily as a designer of woodcuts; Altdorfer also produced many woodcuts. His early works show the influence of Danube school artists. These include Lucas Cranach and Wolf Huber. Some scholars argue that Altdorfer’s work shares some qualities with that of Hans Burgkmair. The expressive use of colour in south German art likely played a role in shaping Altdorfer's artistic vision. He absorbed and transformed these influences into a unique style.
• Who was Albrecht Altdorfer?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480-1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and architect. He is known as one of the main artists of the German Renaissance. He spent most of his career working in Regensburg, Bavaria. Altdorfer entered the Regensburg city council in 1519. He served multiple terms and filled administrative roles. His civic responsibilities occasionally interrupted his artistic output. He is associated with the development of what is called the Danube school. This group of artists favoured expressive, non-classical styles. They often worked in south Germany and Austria. The Danube school's qualities include an interest in natural subjects, emotional religious scenes, and non-Italian artistic traditions. Altdorfer's best-known painting is *The Battle of Issus* (1529), now in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich. It depicts Alexander the Great's victory over Darius III. It is an early example of pure visual spectacle in painting. The picture combines historical, biblical, and apocalyptic themes. It also shows Altdorfer's skill at representing space and light. He signed the painting with his monogram, "AA".
• Why are Albrecht Altdorfer's works important today?+

  Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480-1538) was a German painter, printmaker, and architect. He is considered a founder of the Danube school of painting. His importance rests on his pioneering approach to subject matter and composition. Altdorfer was an early exponent of pure painting. This is apparent in works such as "St George and the Dragon" (1510-1511, Alte Pinakothek, Munich). He placed the figures within an enveloping forest. This diminished their importance relative to the setting. His interest in natural forms extended to his watercolour sketches. These depict wooded landscapes with an accuracy that suggests direct observation. He is also known for his large-scale history paintings, such as "The Battle of Alexander at Issus" (1529, Alte Pinakothek). This painting combines an interest in classical subject matter with detailed observation of nature. The bird's-eye perspective and dramatic light effects create a powerful visual impact. Altdorfer's printmaking activities, especially his woodcuts, helped to disseminate his style and ideas. His work influenced later generations of artists interested in painting and the natural world.