Evening star., 1937-10-29
Stories of the Masters
ALBRIGHT DURER
The notebook records a multitude

The notebook records q multitude OF
such transactions, exchanges, presents
and expenditures. When Durer went
over his account, the mournful fact
remained that what had seemed a
rush of business was nothing of the
sort. He wrote bewilderedly, "In all
my doings, spendings. sales and other
dealings, in all my connections with
high and low, I have suffered loss in
the Netherlands And Margaret had
displayed no interest in the pictures
he had brought for her. He had to
take them away with him again. An
unhappy note adds, six people whose
portraits / drew at Brussels have given
me nothing" And he had become Ill
of fever.
Honors in Antwerp.
But If expected profits had to be
written of, there were many friendly
greetings. In Antwerp at banquet
of the Painters Guild, held in his
honor, he related, "as was being led
to the table, the company stood on
both sides as if they were leading
some great lord And there were
amongst them men Of very high
position. who all behaved most re-
spectfully towards me with deep
courtesy"
Before he returned to Nuremberg
he heard of the treacherous capture
of Luther. He was deeply moved and
wrote in his diary, 20 God Of Heaven,
pity U.S." He had always been religious
and now on his return resolved he
would devote himself to the creation of
religious works of art. But he was full
of plans for writings on geometry.
perspective and fertilization, so that
he had time for only few pictures.
His ailment grew worse. In an at
tempt to have himself cured by a
distant doctor, he wrote and enclosed
a drawing. He had sketched himself
before q mirror, a gaunt and reclining
figure. Underneath he wrote, '"The
yellow spot to which my finger points
is where the pain is" The illustra-
ton, besides being an excellent por-
trait, helps to diagnose his illness, an
4CNCAy NAA6A 0NVCAA1NA Ny
enlargement of the spleen.
Greatest Scholars Were Friends.
Among Durer's friends were the
greatest scholars, and the most tai
ented Of his day. Raphael exchanged
pictures with him, Erasmus was his
host, Melancthon was staunch friend,
even the Emperor Maximilian did
him honor.
Agnes Durer, his wife, remains q
subject for debate She was either
shrew or an inconspicuous, dutiful
spouse. Durer's biographer, one Will
ilbald Pirkheimer, wrote nothing but
i'll of her, but his view may have
been colored by the fact that after
her husbands death she refused to
hand this good friend pair of antlers
he had taken fancy to, out of Durer's
belongings. What seems even more
likely is grudge left over from eve
nings of merry companionship with
Durer, when beratings fell upon both
befuddled heads. Durer's own note
book bears no word Of praise nor
blame.
When Albrecht Durer died In 1928
he was honored abroad as well as
1t home. Luther paid him tribute,
giving thanks that Durer would be
spared the sight Of the evil that was
sure to come, and mourning "one who
was the best of men,"
The above painter Is among 4S
great masters whose pictures are
offered In reproduction form by this
newspaper-4S masterpieces in original
colors. They are divided into IL
sets Of four, one set a week for only
80 cents. Each weeks set contains
q lesson In art appreciation, and per-
sons who obtain all II weekly sets
will get free collectors portfolio.
tqopyrisht. 1872