Besides his great historical paintings, the best of which are in the collections of Vienna, Prague, Munich, and Dresden, Diirer has left some landscapes that are highly valued. Dtirer'a portraits were also highly esteemed : it was of him that he not only possessed the talent of catching the exact expression of the features, but also of delineating the different characters and passions. Direr was also an excellent engraver in copper and wood; his wood-cuts are masterpieces of the art, and considered equal to those of Hugo da Carpi. The best among his wood-cuts, both in respect of invention and execution, are his greater ' Passion' and his 'Revelation of St. John.' So much were they sought after, even during his lifetime, that a Venetian artist was induced to counterfeit them. When Diirer heard of this forgery he went to Venice and commenced a suit against the man, whose name was Marc Antonio Franci. The senate of Venice would have punished the offender severely if Diirer had not obtained his pardon. There is a volume contaioing more than 200 original drawings by Albert Diirer in the print-room of the British Museum, which formerly belonged to the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, and was probably part of the celebrated collection of DOrer's friend, W. Pirkhamer. In the same room is preserved an exquisite carving by him, in hone-stone, of the 'Birth of St. John,' bequeathed to the museum by Mr. R. P. Knight, who had purchased it at the price of 500/. It is dated 1510.
An extensive collection of Albert Diirer'a engravings was bequeathed to the British Museum by the sculptor Nollekens, and many have since been purchased. It is a matter of great regret that there ik not
a single painting by Diirer in the National Gallery. The Darer engravings in the British Museum are of course, under present arrangements, not open to public inspection ; though it certainly appears very desirable that a selection of the magnitioent collection of drawings and engravings now in that museum should be shown to tho public, and the exhibition of the Raffaelle drawings in the Taylor Buildings at Oxford proves that It is perfectly practicable.
Two iuventions are attributed to Diirer : that of printing wood-cute in two colours, and that of etching. His claim to the invention of the art of etching is however disputed, though it is not denied that he was the first who excelled in its Diirer wrote several valuable works on geometry, perspective, and fortification. He bestowed such labour on the purity of his native tongue that his writings even now are regardod well worth the study of the German scholar. In his private life Diirer was amiable, upright, and benevolent.
His life has been written by Arend and Roth, and lately by Heller, who has given the most critical and complete catalogue of all his works. Clothe, Tieck, W'ackenrode, and other distinguished writers have vindicated hii claims, which under the baneful influence of French taste had been so disregarded, that Diirer had come by his own countrymen to be regarded as a barbarian. Since the revival of German art, Diirer has been looked upon by all Germans as the great exemplar of national art.