The influential print titled Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg - The Small Plate by Albrecht Dürer is a masterful example of engraving, created in 1519. Classified as a foundational work among German prints, this piece captures one of the most powerful and controversial figures in early 16th-century central Europe.
The subject, Cardinal Albrecht, was the Archbishop of Mainz and a highly significant patron of the arts, funding works by Dürer and Matthias Grünewald. This specific work is often distinguished from the slightly larger and more intricate engraving Dürer completed the same year (known as Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg - The Large Plate). This piece showcases the prelate in profile, emphasizing his intellectual seriousness and ecclesiastical authority through the precise detailing of his vestments and cap.
Dürer’s renowned technical skill in using the burin is evident in the remarkable tonal depth and texture achieved across the print, setting a definitive high standard for graphic arts in Germany during the Renaissance. Although smaller in scale than its companion piece, this portrait provides valuable insight into the appearance of a man whose financial decisions regarding the sale of indulgences heavily contributed to the start of the Protestant Reformation. This historically significant work of German craftsmanship resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and due to its age and cultural importance, copies of this Renaissance print are often found in the public domain.
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