Saint Catherine

1503–1507

Assistant in Dürer’s workshop in Nuremberg

During the “Wanderjahre” required of artists of the time, Baldung became an assistant to Albrecht Dürer and perfected his art with him until 1507; he quickly picked up the master’s style, and the two became friends. He seems to have run Dürer’s workshop during Dürer’s second stay in Venice, and near the end of his Nuremberg years oversaw the production of stained glass, woodcuts and engravings.

1509

Returns to Strasbourg and becomes a citizen

When his Nuremberg years came to an end, Baldung returned to Strasbourg and became a citizen; he became a celebrity of the town and received many important commissions. He was close to Sebastian Brant and Ulrich von Hutten.

1510

Marries Margarethe Herlin

At twenty-six Baldung married Margarethe Herlin, a local merchant’s daughter; they had one child, a daughter, Margarethe.

1510

His own workshop and the HGB monogram

Baldung joined the guild “Zur Steltz”, opened a workshop and began signing his works with the monogram “HGB”, which he used for the rest of his life.

1518

At the Diet of Augsburg; a supporter of the Reformation

Like Dürer and Cranach, Baldung supported the Protestant Reformation, and in 1518 he was present at the Diet of Augsburg. One of his woodcuts shows Martin Luther in quasi-saintly guise under the protection of the Holy Spirit as a dove; with the Reformation, which repudiated church art, his religious works became fewer.

september 1545

Died