Smyrna times., 1878-10-16
Albert Durer, and the Legend Of st.
Christopher.

very charming and picturesque town is
old Nuremburg, in Bavaria, a town that
began nearly thousand years ago; for it
was founded about 905 A. D. How much of
this ancient beginning is yet to be seen, l
cannot say, but there is a lime-tree in the
court of the Imperial Palace that has been
growing there for seven hundred years, and
was a patriarch when Columbus discovered
this country. The contrast between this
quaint old place and our American cities is
very striking. There is nothing modern
about it, and, if we could see it to-day, it
would look to US just as it did to Peter the
Hermit or its own Emperor in the days of
the Crusades. The ancient moat, the
fianking towers, and the narrow, irregular
streets, are there; the queer old houses,
with their gable roofs and bay-windows;
the cathedrals, shrines and fountains are
the same. But though we should find all
these very curious, there would be some.
thing still more interesting to lovers Of
pictures and statues.
On the west side of magnificent public
square called the Kaupt, or Green Market,
there is an odd-looking house, which a
company of artists watch over very care
fully, all because of little boy who was
born there on the Goth of May, l47l, and
whose name was Albert Durer. He lived
only fifty-nine years; but in that time he
painted such pictures, carved such statues,
and made such engravings on wood and
copper and gold, that, though it is nearly
four hundred years since he died, the
| beautiful things he made are still to be
! seen.
His father was a skilful goldsmith, and
Albert began to help him when he was a
little boy, and before long his father found
that this was not the work his son was put
into the world to do. So when he was
fifteen he began to study painting with an
excellent artist named Michael Wohlga
muth, under whose instruction he progres
sed very fast. The first portrait he painted
was of himself, and it is still to be seen a.
Florence in gallery where autograph
portraits are preserved, lie is sitting be
fore an open window, dressed in a black
and white striped tunic, with a mantle
thrown carelessly over one shoulder, anC
his hands, which are very delicate anC
beautiful, resting on maulstick. Hi
dark brown, glossy hair falls upon his necl
in heavy curls his bright eyes light up
noble face, while his whole appearance
full Of manly dignity.
This picture is supposed to be correc
likeness, for Camerarius says that "Natur
had given him commanding figure, and
body worthy of being the temple of so e4
quisite mind" Everybody loved him bC
cause his disposition was gentle, and r'
spected him because his life was pure an
noble. Though he was wonderfully giite
by nature, he was hard worker, energeti
and persevering in all he undertook. II
never showed any mean jealousy of til
works of others, but was always ready
praise them if possible; and, if not to say
"Well, he has done his best"
II At one time he was employed as paint
- and engraver to the Emperor Maximilia
of Germany, who took great pleasure
talking with him. One day he stood wht
y, Durer was painting some large object, f
which work the ladder he was using prove
Ia too short. Macmillan asked one of Il
= noblemen who stood by to hold it, so tn
or the painter could stand on the top of
is but the courtier refused, because he co
Sc sidered such q service as beneath his dl
ID, nifty. This made the Emperor angry, al
is he said to him You are noble by birt
iai but my painter is ennobled by genius
no and he had patent of nobility made o
,Ig GIr at once for Durer, to show the proud 10
he how much easier it was to make not
A. than great painter.
az Albert Durer's grave is in the Cemete
tie. of st. John at Nuremburg, a gloomy pla'
to where the narrow beds lie in long ROY
. with not flower or tree to brighten the
ce. and only fat stone lying on each, will