A vivid imagination

“If a man devotes himself to art, much evil is avoided that happens otherwise…”

Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Durer was an artist and theorist of the German Renaissance. He is notable for two reasons. First, his breadth of work – engraving, painting, altarpieces, portraits, watercolours and books. Second, he is one of the few artists of his time that was commercially successful and wealthy from his art. That was rare unless you were in the employ of Royalty or the church. It also meant he could paint or draw as he liked, or more importantly, what would sell. In 1515 he produced a series highly sort after woodcut prints of an African Rhinoceros. The odd thing is the Durer never saw a Rhinoceros. The animal in question arrived in Lisbon in early 1515, the first in Europe since Roman times. The King of Portugal intended to gift the beast to Pope Leo X, but it was lost in a shipwreck on the way to Italy. Durer drew the Rhino based on a written description sent from Lisbon. It is not too bad, but it does seem a bit like an armoured tank. I like it, but I am an Endocrine Surgeon. #beareroftheparathyroid #letsmakelemonade