dürer had started to learn goldsmithing and drawing from his father. his father wanted him to continue his training as a goldsmith, but he was so good at drawing that he started as an apprentice to michael wolgemut at the age of fifteen in 1486. a self-portrait, a drawing in silverpoint, is dated 1484 (albertina, vienna). wolgemut was the leading artist in nuremberg at the time, and had a large workshop making different types of works of art, in particular woodcuts for books. nuremberg was a rich city, a centre for publishing and many luxury trades. it had strong links with italy, especially venice, a relatively short distance across the alps.