Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 × 4 in. (15.2 × 10.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1919
Accession Number
19.73.114
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold Albrecht Dürer's masterful 1519 engraving *Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg a compact yet commanding portrait measuring just 6 × 4 inches. Captured in the Northern Renaissance master's signature style, this print depicts the powerful Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, with his coat of arms—a symbol of ecclesiastical authority and noble lineage. Dürer renowned for elevating printmaking to fine art, produced multiple versions of this likeness, showcasing his ability to convey dignity and detail on a miniature scale. Created amid the early stirrings of the Protestant Reformation, the port...
About the Artist
Albrecht Dürer|Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg · 1471–1528
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) stands as the preeminent figure of the Northern Renaissance and arguably the most influential artist in the history of printmaking. Born in Nuremberg on May 21, 1471, and dying in the same city on April 6, 1528, Dürer revolutionized the status of the artist in Northern Europe, transforming printmaking from a commercial craft into an independent fine art and establishing ...