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Artist of the Reformation: The Story of Albrecht Dürer
The Leonardo of the North was more than just a gifted artist. He was a writer, clever businessman, and apt teacher of students, and a man passionately interested in attracted to the theology of Martin Luther. He did more than just create works of art for wealthy patrons; he also took advantage of the new technology of printing in order to bring his illustrations of the Bible to a wide audience of ordinary people. This biography focuses on Durer the man, rather than Durer the artist. Joyce once again helps us to understand a historical figure by showing us his childhood, family, friends, and hopes and fears. Filled with excerpts from Durer's own writings and illustrated with 30 of his most famous pieces. At the death of Albrecht Durer, Martin Luther wrote, It is natural and right to weep for so excellent a man.
122 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2001
11 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Joyce McPherson
47 books42 followersJoyce McPherson is the author of the Camp Hawthorne series as well as biographies and abridged Shakespeare plays for young people. She is also the mother of nine children who give her good advice for her stories. In her spare time she enjoys reading history, working with young people, and directing Shakespeare plays.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2024
Middle grade biography of our artist for the term. I knew nothing about Durer going into this and it was so interesting! He was a contemporary of Martin Luther, a true Christian who sought to honor and glorify God in all areas of his life, and so much more. This book was easy to read, I’ve read at least one other biography by this author and she’s quite talented. Her biography of Newton is one of my son’s all time favorite books. This made me want to read even more about Durer and definitely gave me a better understanding and deeper respect for his art.
December 5, 2025
Very good biography of Dürer for young people. We didn’t get through it all with the girls when we studied him in art, but we have slowly finished it over the rest of the year.
October 24, 2024
We read this because Durer was the Artist we studied in Term 1 and because we adore Joyce Mac Pherson’s biographies. It was neat to learn about his devout faith and how he combined that with his artistry. We enjoyed learning about his father and grandfather who were also artists.
The most surprising fact was that he was a contemporary of Luther and supported him and he and Luther had mutual friends!
The most surprising fact was that he was a contemporary of Luther and supported him and he and Luther had mutual friends!
October 26, 2024
Very interesting biography about the artist we have been studying. I just read this on my own but will have my 6th grader read it as well. I love the quotes by Durer at the beginning of each chapter. It was a delight!
May 19, 2021
The Painter With The Hairy Beard
Quotes from Mr Albrecht Durer himself before each chapter. This book starts off with 8 year old Albrecht watching his father carve a bird out of a bowl. Growing up learning the craft and following after his father opened so many doors for little Albrecht. He grew up with a passion for painting and didn’t stop there. He continued to blossom along with his childhood friend Williband. A truly respected man.
One of 15 children, although married never had children himself. He became one of the leading intellectuals of art in the sixteenth century. He was extremely generous in every sense of the word from the word of God, to apprenticeship, and funding scholarships to enable young boys to pursue a craft in the world of art. He walked by his faith, believed wholeheartedly, and taught many through his art. One of the many ways he did that was by an illustration of the book of Revelations for those who weren’t able to read the Bible for themselves. The illustrations provided in this book were phenomenal, works of art!
Quotes from Mr Albrecht Durer himself before each chapter. This book starts off with 8 year old Albrecht watching his father carve a bird out of a bowl. Growing up learning the craft and following after his father opened so many doors for little Albrecht. He grew up with a passion for painting and didn’t stop there. He continued to blossom along with his childhood friend Williband. A truly respected man.
One of 15 children, although married never had children himself. He became one of the leading intellectuals of art in the sixteenth century. He was extremely generous in every sense of the word from the word of God, to apprenticeship, and funding scholarships to enable young boys to pursue a craft in the world of art. He walked by his faith, believed wholeheartedly, and taught many through his art. One of the many ways he did that was by an illustration of the book of Revelations for those who weren’t able to read the Bible for themselves. The illustrations provided in this book were phenomenal, works of art!
July 11, 2016
A great introduction to an amazing artist. It makes me want to learn more about him and spend time with his sketches, paintings and woodcuts.
Favorite quotes:
Love and delight are better teachers than compulsion.
It is easier to cast blame on a thing than to make it better.
Martin Luther's words on hearing of Durer's death: "It is natural and right to weep for so excellent a man."
Favorite quotes:
Love and delight are better teachers than compulsion.
It is easier to cast blame on a thing than to make it better.
Martin Luther's words on hearing of Durer's death: "It is natural and right to weep for so excellent a man."
March 18, 2025
The book is written for a 5th/6th grade reading level or as a read aloud for younger students. The book chronicles Durer's life as a child, working as an apprentice in his father's goldsmith workshop and how he came to view beauty in creation and the Creator, God. It also explores Durer's views of Scripture and the church during the early Reformation.
I think this would make a great addition to any of our classes or possibly to the art curriculum if you study artists.
The book is only about 120 pages and includes black and white copies of Durer's artwork. I found the book to be very insightful and interesting.
I think this would make a great addition to any of our classes or possibly to the art curriculum if you study artists.
The book is only about 120 pages and includes black and white copies of Durer's artwork. I found the book to be very insightful and interesting.
February 15, 2015
Born to a goldsmith and the daughter of a goldsmith, Albrecht Durer was trained in art from an early age, and taught by his father to make Jesus his foundation in art. As he became an established artist, Durer continued his childhood search for true beauty, and for the truth of the scriptures.
My student and I used this book in our study of the Renaissance and Reformation. Though fictionalized, it is well researched and historically accurate to my knowledge. McPherson spins the story well, focusing on Durer's spiritual growth from his childhood under godly parents to his famous last years as he listened to Luther.
Based on Durer's own writings in journals, letters, and books, Artist of the Reformation is a slightly fictionalized biography of a leading intellectual of the sixteenth century. This book is written simply enough to be understood by young children, yet full of deep spiritual and philosophical discussions that make it helpful to any reader. It attracted my interests in art, the Renaissance, the Reformation, beauty, printing, history, teaching, as well as theology. It has more than twenty illustrations by Durer and well over a score of direct quotes from his writing.
My student and I used this book in our study of the Renaissance and Reformation. Though fictionalized, it is well researched and historically accurate to my knowledge. McPherson spins the story well, focusing on Durer's spiritual growth from his childhood under godly parents to his famous last years as he listened to Luther.
Based on Durer's own writings in journals, letters, and books, Artist of the Reformation is a slightly fictionalized biography of a leading intellectual of the sixteenth century. This book is written simply enough to be understood by young children, yet full of deep spiritual and philosophical discussions that make it helpful to any reader. It attracted my interests in art, the Renaissance, the Reformation, beauty, printing, history, teaching, as well as theology. It has more than twenty illustrations by Durer and well over a score of direct quotes from his writing.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews