Albrecht Altdorfer

Albrecht Altdorfer was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main representative of the so-called Danube School setting biblical and historical subjects against landscape backgrounds of expressive colors. As an artist also making small intricate engravings he is seen to belong to the Nuremberg Little Masters. His training is unknown, but his early work was influenced by Cranach and Durer's art too was known to him through the woodcuts and engravings. The fantastic element that pervaded his paintings was also prominent in his drawings, most of which were done with black and white lines on brown or blue-gray paper. Altdorfer was a significant printmaker, with numerous engravings and about ninety-three woodcuts. He signed and dated each one of his works.