Hans Burgkmair

Hans Burgkmair was one of the artists who brought the Italian Renaissance to Germany. His paintings combine German precision with Italian space, rich architecture and warm colour, and his portraits are direct and solidly built. He was even more important as a designer of woodcuts.

Born in Augsburg in 1473, the son of a painter, he trained with Martin Schongauer in Colmar and had his own workshop in Augsburg by 1498. A visit to Italy, especially around 1507, shaped his style. He designed some 800 woodcuts, many for books, and was a pioneer of the chiaroscuro woodcut, printed from several blocks to give tone. From about 1508 until 1519 he worked on the great print projects of Emperor Maximilian I, designing nearly half of the Triumphs of Maximilian and many illustrations for the Weisskunig and Theuerdank. He died in Augsburg in 1531.

Emperor Maximilian on Horseback is one of his best-known images of his great patron.