To the Honorable and well-esteemed Lord Wilibald Pirckheymer /

Councilor to His Imperial Majesty etc. my favorable dear Lord /

and greatly helpful friend, I offer

Albrecht Dürer my willing service.

Although I, favorable Lord and friend, do not doubt that some will venture to criticize this undertaking of mine, because I—as an unlearned original: "vngelerter"; in the 16th century, this specifically meant one who had not received a formal university education in Latin. man of small understanding and gifted with little art—dare to write and teach that which I myself have never formally learned or been instructed in by anyone else; nevertheless, because you have repeatedly urged me, and in part even compelled me, to bring these books of mine to light, I have preferred to place myself in the danger of gossip than to refuse any request of yours.

Although I hope that no one who is gifted with virtue and understanding will interpret it poorly that I bring to light—so generously and for the common benefit of all artists—that which I have acquired with high diligence, constant effort and labor, and not without a great loss of my own time; rather, everyone will praise my goodwill and inclined heart, and understand it in the best possible way. Since I have no doubt that I will do a favor to all art lovers and those who have a desire to learn, I must let envy (which leaves nothing unpunished) take its usual course, and answer that it is much easier to criticize a thing than to invent it oneself.

And it would indeed be different if the books of the ancients, who wrote about the arts of painting, were still before our eyes; then this undertaking of mine might be misinterpreted as if I presumed to find something better. But since such books have been entirely lost through the length of time, it cannot with any fairness be held against me if I—just as the ancients did—release my opinions and inventions in writing, so that other intelligent people may be given cause to do the same, and our descendants may have something they can increase and improve, so that the art of painting may in time reach and return to its perfection once again.

Yet no one is forced to follow this teaching of mine as if it were entirely perfect in all respects; for human nature has not yet so declined that another could not also invent something better. Therefore, anyone may use this instruction of mine as long as it pleases them, or until they invent something better; if not, they may well consider that this teaching was written not for them, but for others who desire to accept it. For it must be a very brittle understanding original: "spröder verstand"; a mind that is stiff, unyielding, or lacks the creative spark to innovate. that does not trust itself to invent something further, but always lies upon the old path, only follows others, and does not venture to think further.

Therefore, it becomes every intelligent person to follow another in such a way that they do not despair of eventually inventing something better; for if that happens, there can be no doubt that this art may in time regain its perfection, just as it was in antiquity. For it is obvious that the German painters are not a little skilled with their hands and the use of colors, although they have until now lacked the art of measurement measurement (Messung): geometry and the mathematical principles of proportion, as well as perspective original: "Perspectiua" and other such things. Therefore, it is well to be hoped that if they also acquire these, and thus master both the practice and the art together, they will in time yield the prize to no other nation. But without right proportion no image can ever be perfect, even if it is made as diligently as is ever possible; although it is not necessary to make all—and especially very small—images according to the measurement, for such would require too much effort. But if one [knows] the measurement...