Page:Dürer (1910).djvu/25

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
DÜRER
17

other most nearly in things that do not matter.

Frankly, therefore, Albrecht Durer, who was born on May 21, 1471, is a human being from another world, and unless you realise that too, I doubt you can understand him, much less admire him.

For his Art is not beautiful.

Germans have never been able to create anything beautiful in Art: their sense of beauty soars into Song.

But even whilst I am writing these words it occurs to me that they are no longer true, for the German of to-day is no longer the German of yesterday, "standing peaceful on his scientific watch-tower; and to the raging, struggling multitude here and elsewhere solemnly, from hour to hour, with preparatory blast of cow-horn emit his 'Höret ihr Herren und lasst's euch sagen'…" as Carlyle pictures him; he is most certainly not like the Lutheran