Page:History of the German people at the close of the Middle Ages vol1.djvu/158

 146 HISTORY OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE the pursuit of these studies, and acquired such a funda- mental knowledge of them that their names may not unfairly be coupled with the mathematicians of their times. Diirer's books on the art of surveying were a valuable contribution to mathematics, while his exquisite celestial chart, a model of the wood-cutting art, was of no less value to astronomical science. Pirkheimer assisted Schoner in the manufacture of astronomical instruments, and from a copy in his valuable library he had the works of Archimedes published. Wimpheling emphasises the fact that Eegiomontanus was no less assiduous in the encouragement of the fine arts at Nuremberg, as also in promoting the study of the Greek language and of history. He was, indeed, one of the first of the Germans who, after learning Greek in Germany, perfected their knowledge in Italy by means of intercourse with learned Greeks in that country. He could not, moreover, have executed his great work — maps of the different countries of Europe, with historical and geographical notes from the most reliable sources — without the help of historical studies. The patricians, Johann Loeffelholz and Johann Pirk- heimer, the father of Wilibald, and Sebald Schreyer were signally distinguished for their enlightened patronage of science and learning. They founded libraries, took young scholars into their own families, and assisted them in bringing out their works. Through the liberality of Schreyer the town physician, Hartmann Schedel, was enabled to publish his beautiful book of chronicles, illustrated with more than 2,000 excellent woodcuts. Schedel also published a great work, the result of the