Dürer painted himself at centre of Renaissance altarpiece in revenge, research finds

The only surviving copy, by Jobst Harrich, of the central panel of Dürer’s lost masterpiece shows the painter positioned centre left. Photograph: Horst Ziegenfusz/Historisches Museum Frankfurt am Main

The Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer took revenge on his patron after a bitter row over pay by placing his own self-portrait in a 1500s altarpiece that he painted for him, according to research.

The Nuremberg master was commissioned by a wealthy Frankfurt merchant, Jacob Heller, only to find himself fighting in vain for a decent fee.