The Bible. New Testament engravings by Dürer

The Bible is a book of limitless value for every Christian. One of the oldest books in the world, it has been translated into many different languages and published numerous times, with illustrations created by outstanding artists from various corners of the earth. This edition of the New Testament is adorned with engravings by the German painter and graphic artist Albrecht Dürer. The text of the Holy Scripture is presented in the synodal translation.

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) was born in Nuremberg into a family of a jeweler. Initially, the future artist's father dreamed of having his son continue his craft. He began to teach him jewelry making, but the young man quickly realized that he was more drawn to the visual arts. Albrecht decided to study painting and woodcutting in the workshop of the famous artist Michael Wolgemut. After finishing his studies, Dürer went on a journey. He visited several countries in Europe, continuing to learn from established artists and mastering new drawing techniques. Upon returning to his native city, Albrecht opened his own workshop, where he began to create engravings on wood and copper. At that time, Nuremberg was one of the centers of European printing, and engravings were in high demand in this environment. Dürer immersed himself in work. He was engaged in his favorite craft, which did not require expensive materials and allowed him to earn a living. At the same time, Dürer could develop themes that had not yet been widely depicted in painting. The first engravings by Albrecht were published with the help of his godfather Anton Koberger, who was among the leading printers in Europe. Soon the artist began to collaborate with other Nuremberg publishers and gained many admirers of his art. Dürer's creativity was diverse; the artist often touched on biblical themes. Dürer repeatedly depicted scenes from the Old and New Testaments in his engravings. Among his works on the theme of Holy Scripture are the series of woodcuts "Apocalypse," "The Large Passion," "The Small Passion," and "The Life of the Virgin Mary." The artist's delicate craftsmanship, abundance of details, and expressiveness of images impressed Dürer's contemporaries and secured him posthumous fame. However, woodcutting was not the only area where Dürer demonstrated his mastery. He was also interested in painting, displayed exceptional portraiture skills, and wrote an extensive treatise dedicated to the depiction of the human body, titled "Four Books on Proportions." Many original works by Albrecht Dürer have survived to this day and are now housed in museums and private collections.