Memoirs of Journeys to Venice and the Low Countries | Page 8

emerald ring, and went immediately to the man from
whom I got the rings. He will give me back my money for it, although
it is a thing that he does not like to do; however, he has given me his
word and he must hold to that. Do you know that the jewelers buy

emeralds abroad and sell them here at a profit? But my friends tell me
that the other two rings are well worth 6 ducats apiece, for they say that
they are fine and clear and contain no flaws. And they say that instead
of taking them to the valuer you should enquire for such rings as they
can show you and then compare them and see whether they are like
them; and if when I got them by exchange I had been willing to lose 2
ducats on the three rings, Bernard Holzbeck, who was present at the
transaction, would have bought them of me. I have since sent you a
sapphire ring by Franz Imhof, I hope it has reached you. I think I made
a good bargain at that place, for they offered to buy it of me at a profit
on the spot. But I shall find out from you, for you know that I
understand nothing about such things and am forced to trust those who
advise me.
The painters here you must know are very unfriendly to me. They have
summoned me three times before the magistrates, and I have had to pay
4 florins to their School. You must know too that I might have gained
much money if I had not undertaken to make the painting for the
Germans, for there is a great deal of work in it and I cannot well finish
it before Whitsuntide; yet they only pay me 85 ducats for it. [Editor's
note: Bellini at this time received 100 ducats for a large picture]. That,
you know, will go in living expenses, and then I have bought some
things, and have sent some money away, so that I have not much in
hand now; but I have made up my mind not to leave here until God
enables me to repay you with thanks and to have too florins over
besides. I should easily earn this if I had not got to do the German
picture, for, except the painters, everyone wishes me well.
Please tell my mother to speak to Wolgemut about my brother, and to
ask him whether he can give him work until I get back, or whether he
can find employment with others. [Editor's note: Drer's brother was
Hans Drer, who was fifteen at this date. He became a painter of
second-rate ability, and afterwards helped Albrecht in the decoration of
the Emperor Maximilian's prayer book]. I should like to have brought
him with me to Venice, which would have been useful both to me and
to him and he would have learned the language, but she was afraid that
the sky would fall on him. I pray you keep an eye on him: women are
no use for that. Tell the boy, as you can so well, to be studious and
independent till I come, and not to rely on his mother, for I cannot do

everything although I shall do my best. If it were only for myself, I
should not starve; but to provide for so many is too hard for me, and
nobody is throwing money away.
Now I commend myself to you, and tell my mother to be ready to sell
at the Crown Fair. I am expecting my wife to come home, and have
written to her too about everything. I shall not purchase the diamond
ornament until you write. I do not think I shall be able to return home
before next Autumn. What I earn for the picture which was to have
been ready by Whitsuntide will all be gone in living expenses and
payments. But what I gain afterwards I hope to save. If you think it
right, say nothing of this and I shall keep putting it off from day to day
and writing as though I was just coming. Indeed I am quite irresolute; I
do not know myself what I shall do.
Write to me again soon.
Given on Thursday before Palm Sunday in the year 1506.
--Albrecht Drer
[p.s.] Your servant
23rd April, 1506
First my willing service to you, dear Sir. I wonder why you do not
write to me to say how you like the sapphire ring which Hans Imhof
has sent you by the messenger Schon from Augsburg. I do not know
whether it has reached you or not. I have been to Hans Imhof and
enquired, and he says that he knows no reason