Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), Renaissance genius - artist, poet, writer, and theorist - was acknowledged across Europe. He was praised as the Apelles Germaniae ('German Apelles'), honoured by noble patronage, commissioned by the Elector of Saxony, Frederick the Wise and Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.

He worked in many mediums - woodcut, etching, and engraving, drawing, watercolour and oil painting and after his death there was a mania for his work (or many forgeries of it) for another half century.

This glorious and comprehensive volume is both a fascinating biography of his life and of the period, and a gallery of his work. Insightful captions give background to the works as well as specifications of date, size, medium and where it is exhibited. 500 colour reproductions