prompter: Who are the old master's of the art world ?

assistant: The term "old master" generally refers to European artists who were active prior to the 19th century and whose work has had a significant impact on the history of art. Some of the most well-known old masters include:

    Leonardo da Vinci
    Michelangelo
    Raphael
    Titian
    Caravaggio
    Rembrandt
    Vermeer
    Rubens
    Velázquez
    El Greco

These artists, among others, are revered for their technical mastery, innovative use of materials, and groundbreaking contributions to the development of various artistic movements, styles, and genres. Their works are still highly sought after by collectors, museums, and art enthusiasts around the world.

prompter: For each of those artists, please list the #1 painting that sold for the most money.

assistant: Determining the #1 painting that sold for the most money for each of these artists can be challenging, as the prices of some of the artworks might not be publicly disclosed, or the sales could have occurred in private transactions. However, based on available information up to September 2021, here is a list of notable paintings by these artists that have fetched high prices:

1. Leonardo da Vinci: "Salvator Mundi" – Sold for $450.3 million in 2017.
2. Michelangelo: There are no known records of Michelangelo's paintings being sold at auction. Many of his works are part of museum collections or in their original locations, like the Sistine Chapel.
3. Raphael: "Portrait of a Young Man" – The painting's value is estimated to be around $100 million, but it was looted during World War II and has never been recovered. The painting's current whereabouts are unknown.
4. Titian: "Diana and Actaeon" – Sold for £50 million (approximately $70 million) to the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery, London in 2009.
5. Caravaggio: "Judith Beheading Holofernes" – This painting was discovered in an attic in Toulouse, France, and was estimated to be worth around €120 million. However, it was sold privately to an anonymous buyer in 2019 for an undisclosed amount.
6. Rembrandt: "Portrait of Jan Six" – There is no public record of this painting being sold at auction. It has remained in the possession of the Six family for centuries, and its value is estimated to be around $180 million.
7. Vermeer: "Young Woman Seated at a Virginal" – Sold for £16.2 million (approximately $30 million) in 2004.
8. Rubens: "Massacre of the Innocents" – Sold for £49.5 million (approximately $76.7 million) in 2002.
9. Velázquez: "Portrait of Juan de Pareja" – Sold for $5.5 million in 1970. Adjusted for inflation, the price would be over $37 million today.
10. El Greco: "Saint Dominic in Prayer" – Sold for £9.15 million (approximately $13.9 million) in 2013.

assistant: Here are the most valuable paintings by each old master, along with the highest sale price achieved at auction:

Leonardo da Vinci - Salvator Mundi: $450.3 million (sold in 2017)
Michelangelo - no paintings survive, he was primarily a sculptor
Raphael - Portrait of a Young Man: $47.9 million (sold in 2002)
Titian - Diana and Actaeon: $76 million (sold in 2009)
Caravaggio - Judith Beheading Holofernes: $101 million (estimated value, not yet sold at auction)
Rembrandt - Interchange: $33.2 million (sold in 2015)
Vermeer - Interiors: $45 million (sold in 1999)
Rubens - Massacre of the Innocents: $76.7 million (sold in 2002)
Velázquez - Portrait of Juan de Pareja: $19 million (sold in 1971)
El Greco - Opening of the Fifth Seal: $31.9 million (sold in 1995)

Let me know if you would like more details on any of these paintings or artists. I can also suggest additional resources for researching the financial value of old master artworks if needed.

assistant: The Old Masters is a term used to refer to a group of European painters who worked between the 14th and 19th centuries, from the Gothic era to the advent of Impressionism. They are considered masters of their craft and their works are highly regarded in the art world. Some of the most famous Old Masters include:
The term "Old Masters" generally refers to the most recognized European artists—mostly painters—working between the Renaissance and 1800  from the Gothic era to the advent of Impressionism. 

An informal designation (and not a specific art historical style or movement), this category includes artists who fall within Gothic Art, the Early, High, and Northern Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, the Dutch "Golden Age," Rococo, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism. 
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Michelangelo
- Raphael
- Rembrandt
- Vermeer
- Caravaggio
- Jan van Eyck
- Titian
- Albrecht Dürer
- Peter Paul Rubens
There are many more artists who are considered Old Masters, and the list can vary depending on the context and criteria used to define the term.

prompter: tell me more about Albrecht Dürer

assistant: Albrecht Dürer is an extremely influential painter and printmaker who is generally regarded as the greatest German Renaissance artist.

Upon outbreak of the plague in Nuremberg, Dürer traveled to Italy and learned by absorbing and copying the work of Italian artists he's met during his travels. Dürer embarked upon a career as printmaker and painter upon his return to Nuremberg in 1495 post-plague. He was immediately successful and his woodcut series, *the Apocalypse*, published in 1498, by reason of its innovative format, technical mastery, and the forcefulness of its imagery, made Dürer famous throughout Europe.

In the summer of 1505 the plague reappeared in Nuremberg and Dürer again set out for Venice, this time as a well-known artist with a reputation based on his woodcuts and engravings. His major commission, *The Feast of the Rose Garlands*, 1506, painted for the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, the association of German merchant to be installed in the church of San Bartolommeo, a work that in its solemnity and use of Venetian color and motifs, silenced any criticism of Dürer's abilities as a painter. 

Dürer attracted the attention of the Emperor Maximilian I who had visited Nuremberg in February, 1512, and subsequently gave Dürer several commissions. The three so-called "Master Engravings" he made: *Knight, Death, and the Devil*, of 1513, *Saint Jerome in his Study*, and *Melancolia I* both of 1514, raised the engraving technique to new heights and reflect Dürer's ongoing assimilation of Italian art and theory, and in the case of *Melancolia I*, Neoplatonic philosophy.

Dürer died on 6 April 1528, possibly as a result of a malarial infection contracted in 1521 when he went to Zeeland in the hopes of seeing a stranded whale.

assistant: Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) was a German Renaissance artist known for his mastery of painting, printmaking, and drawing. He was born in Nuremberg, Germany, to a family of goldsmiths, and initially trained as a goldsmith himself before turning to art.

Dürer was a prolific artist who produced a wide range of works, including portraits, landscapes, and religious scenes. He is perhaps best known for his detailed and intricate woodcuts and engravings, which were highly influential in the development of European printmaking.

Dürer was also deeply interested in mathematics, geometry, and perspective, and incorporated these principles into his art. He wrote treatises on these subjects, including "Underweysung der Messung mit dem Zirckel und Richtscheyt" (Instruction in Measurement with Compass and Straightedge), which was one of the first books on mathematics and geometry published in German.

Some of Dürer's most famous works include his self-portraits, such as "Self-Portrait at 28" and "Self-Portrait at 22"; his engravings, such as "Knight, Death, and the Devil" and "Melencolia I"; and his paintings, such as "Adam and Eve" and "The Four Apostles".

Dürer's work had a significant impact on the development of art in Europe and beyond, and he is often regarded as one of the most important artists of the Northern Renaissance.