Willibald Pirckheimer
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Willibald Pirckheimer (December 5, 1470 - December 22, 1530) was a wealthy and prominent figure in Nuremberg in the 16th century. He was educated in Italy and considered a humanist. Among his friends were the artist Albrecht Dürer, who made a number of portraits of him, and the great humanist and theologian Erasmus.
He was a member of a group of Nuremberg humanists including Conrad Celtis, Sebald Schreyer, and Hartmann Schedel (author of the Nuremberg Chronicle).
In 1499 Pirckheimer was chosen by the City Council to command their contingent of troops in the Imperial army during the Swabian War against the Swiss. On his return he was presented with a gold cup by the City. This may be referred to in Dürer's engraving Nemesis of about 1502.[1]
As Dürer had not received a classical education, it is usually assumed that much of the display of classical and humanist learning in his works, especially his prints , reflected his discussions with Pirckheimer. A notable example is Melencolia I.
[edit] References
- Giulia Bartrum, Albrecht Dürer and his Legacy, British Museum Press, 2002, ISBN 0714126330
