ALBRECHT DUeRER TO WILIBALD PIRCKHEIMER HIS PATRON AND VERY GOOD FRIEND
GREETING:
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In our Germany, most excellent Wilibald, are to be found at the present
day many young men of a happy talent for the Art Pictorial, who without
any artistic training whatever, but taught only by their daily exercise
of it, have run riot like an unpruned tree, so that unhesitatingly and
without compunction they turn out their works, purely according to their
own judgment. But when great and ingenious artists behold their so inept
performances, not undeservedly do they ridicule the blindness of such
men; since sane judgment abhors nothing so much as a picture perpetrated
with no technical knowledge, although with plenty of care and diligence.
Now the sole reason why painters of this sort are not aware of their own
error is that they have not learnt Geometry, without which no one can
either be or become an absolute artist; but the blame for this should be
laid upon their masters, who themselves are ignorant of this art. Since
this is in very truth the foundation of the whole graphic art, it seems
to me a good thing to set down for studious beginners a few rudiments,
in which I might, as it were, furnish them with a handle for using the
compass and the rule, and thence, by seeing Truth itself before their
eyes, they might become not only zealous of the arts, but even arrive at
a great and true understanding of them.
Now, although in our own time, and amongst ourselves, the Art Pictorial
is in ill repute with some, as being held to minister incitement to
idolatry, yet a Christian man is no more enticed to superstition by
pictures or images, than is an honest man girt with a sword to highway
robbery. Certes he would be a witless creature who would willingly adore
either pictures or images of wood or stone. On the contrary, a picture
is the rather edifying and agreeable to Christian religion and duty, if
only it be fairly, artificially, and correctly painted.
In what honour and dignity this art was anciently held amongst the
Greeks and Romans, the old authors sufficiently testify; though
afterwards all but lost, while it lay hid for more than a thousand
years. It has now at length, only within the last two hundred years, by
some Italians been brought again to light. For it is the easiest thing
in the world for the Arts to be lost and perish; but only with
difficulty, and after long time & pains are they resuscitated. Wherefore
I hope that no wise man will defame this laborious task of mine, since
with good intent & in behoof of all who love the Liberal Arts have I
undertaken it: nor for painters alone, but for goldsmiths too, & for
sculptors, and stonecutters, and woodcarvers, and for all, in short, who
use compass, and rule, and measuring line--that it may serve to their
utility.
Nor is anyone compelled whether or no to spend gainful hours on these
exercises of mine; although I am not ignorant that whoever is well
exercised in them will thence acquire not only the principles of his own
art, but by daily practice, an exactitude of judgment, with which he
will proceed to higher investigations & discover many more things than I
have here pointed out.
But since, illustrious Sir, it is clearer than light that you are
yourself, so to speak, an asylum of all the noble Arts, it has been my
pleasure, out of a singular love I bear towards you, to dedicate to you
this book; not because I desire to appear therein as rendering you any
great service, but because thereby you may understand how engaged my
mind is to you; and since by my work I can confer on you but little
favour, at least by the exhibition of a ready mind I may repay the
benefits you shower upon me.
Farewell.
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