The artwork titled “Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg (The Small Cardinal)” is an engraving created by Albrecht Dürer in 1519. This work belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement and is categorized as a portrait. It is held in the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, in Karlsruhe, Germany.
In the engraving, there is a detailed portrayal of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg’s face, capturing his solemn expression and strong features. The cardinal is depicted from the chest up and shown in partial profile. Albrecht Dürer’s meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the fine lines that render the textures of the cardinal’s clothing and the features on his face. Prominent Latin text floats above the cardinal’s head, likely detailing his official titles and positions within the church hierarchy, and more text below indicates something about the sitter or the artwork.
The artwork is a quintessential example of Northern Renaissance portraiture, which often focused on realism and the distinctive details that defined the character of the sitter.
