Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg

A half portrait of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, shown in profile looking to the right; with his coat of arms in the top right corner, with two Latin inscriptions.

Engraving, signed and dated in the plate with the Durer’s monogram.

A fine impression, on contemporary laid paper, trimmed to the platemark, in good condition.

Faithful and misleading contemporary copy of Durer's engraving, classified by Bartsch as C1.

Three lines Latin inscription above the portrait, reading in translation: "MDXXIII Thus were his eyes, his cheeks, his features at the age of 34". Four lines Latin inscription below the portrait, reading in translation: "Albert, by devine mercy the most Holy Roman Church's titular presbyter cardinal of St Chrysogonus, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, Primate Elector of the Empire, Administer of Halberstadt, Margrave of Brandenburg".

When Dürer had returned from the Netherlands, he engraved a further portrait of Albrecht of Brandenburg, which he records in a letter to the cardinal: 'Before I became ill this year I sent an engraved copper plate to Your Electoral Grace with your portrait together with five hundred impressions thereof. Finding no acknowledgement of this in Your Grace's letter, I fear that either the portrait did not please Your Grace - this would sadden me, as my diligence would have had poor results - or else, I fear that it may not have reached Your Grace at all. I beg Your Grace for a gracious reply.'

The engraving is based on a silverpoint drawing which Dürer may have drawn when the cardinal was staying in the city for the Diet of Nuremberg, 1522-23.

Bibliografia

Meder 1932, Dürer Katalog (101.d); Bartsch, Le Peintre graveur (VII.111.103); Albrecht Dürer and his Legacy, BM exh cat 2002 - 2003, no. 148.