Albrecht Durer is widely regarded as the greatest Renaissance artist to come from Germany and is remembered as a valued printmaker and theorist as well as a painter.
Durer completed his first work, a self-portrait, in 1484. He left Germany six years later for a 'wanderjahre,' what is now referred to as a gap year or year to travel.
A stint in Italy between 1505 and 1507 saw Durer return to painting, mainly on linen using tempera. Altarpieces and portraits were the main products, namely The Adoration of the Magi and the Paumgartner altarpiece.

In Venice in 1506 Durer created the Adoration of the Virgin (also known as the Feast of Rose Garlands) on commission for the San Bartolomeo church which then found its way to Prague. Other pieces created at this time include Christ disputing with the Doctors and The Virgin and Child with the Goldfinch.
Albrecht Durer's popularity rose in Italy (he was now an acquaintance of Giovanni Bellini, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael) but he felt the need to return to Germany, where he created his most renowned artworks.
In around 1512 Durer had befriended Maximilian I and this led to his commission for many works including The Triumphal Arch which was created on 192 different blocks. This was followed with Triumphal Procession.
In 1521 Durer retuned to Germany and is later life was largely based on paintings religious themes for great projects such as Sacra Conversazione and Crucifixion and he also began writing about perspective, fortification, proportions and geometry.
In 1528, at the age of 56, Albrecht Durer died leaving a considerable fortune and his house/workshop is today a Nuremberg landmark and museum.