The Italian Renaissance is conventionally thought of as the historical period that bore witness to the rise of the individual. Yet no other artist of the time begins to compare with Albrecht Dürer in terms of the almost obsessive interest he displayed in depicting his life, his dreams and his surroundings in his art.

Exploring Dürer's life and times, the natural world in his work, and his studies, travel and influences, David Ekserdjian closely examines Dürer's paintings, as well as his drawings and pri