Underweysung der Messung (Nuremberg, 1538)

Underweysung der Messung (Nuremberg, 1538) by Albrecht Dürer is a landmark publication of the German Renaissance, merging complex artistic theory with precise mathematical instruction. Published posthumously, this theoretical treatise originated in Dürer’s intensive studies, which began around 1527. The volume features sophisticated diagrams and illustrations rendered through the medium of woodcuts, a technique that allowed for the mass dissemination of accurate scientific knowledge. The work marks a crucial moment in European publishing history, as it was among the first German-language texts to systematically address Euclidean geometry, linear perspective, and projective techniques for artists, architects, and artisans.

Within its pages, Dürer meticulously explains methods for projection, the construction of optical instruments, and achieving accurate scale in representation. The treatise is perhaps most influential for its detailed instructions on drawing the human figure, providing geometric means for the accurate measurement and rendering of proportions. These didactic chapters include detailed examples and studies of men and idealized female nudes, demonstrating the application of mathematical rigor to classical artistic subjects. This combination of fine art prints and technical instruction cemented Dürer's legacy not only as a master engraver but also as a seminal Renaissance intellectual and theorist.

This volume remains a critical resource for understanding 16th-century German artistic and applied mathematical practice. This particular copy, which exemplifies the highest standards of early scientific book printing, is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As the work is a canonical masterwork from the period, reproductions of many of its influential illustrations are readily available in the public domain for scholarly study.