Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg (Small Cardinal) Durer Engravings (1471-1528)

The engraving presents a portrait of a young man in ecclesiastical attire. He is depicted from the chest up, turned slightly towards the viewer, his gaze directed outward and beyond the frame. The artist has rendered him with meticulous detail, emphasizing the texture of his skin and the subtle play of light across his features. A youthful countenance is evident; the face displays a certain seriousness tempered by an underlying vulnerability.
The man’s headwear is particularly significant: a cardinals biretta, its crimson color muted in this monochrome rendering, sits atop his head. To his left hangs a heraldic shield bearing complex emblems, likely representing familial or institutional affiliations. The inscription beside the shield provides further identification through Latin text, detailing titles and lineage.
The man’s garments are simple yet indicative of status – a dark, buttoned tunic that falls loosely over his shoulders. The rendering of fabric suggests a degree of richness in material, though austerity is also implied by its unadorned nature.
At the bottom of the engraving, a Latin inscription appears, seemingly a quote or epigraph. It speaks of eyes, cheeks, and time passing – hinting at mortality and perhaps reflecting on the subject’s youthfulness within the context of his elevated position. The date Anno etatis suae xxix (in the year of his age 29) is included, anchoring the portrait in a specific moment of the mans life.
The overall effect is one of restrained dignity and nascent power. While the subject’s youthfulness might suggest potential rather than fully realized authority, the cardinal’s insignia clearly mark him as someone of considerable importance. The engraving seems intended not merely to record likeness but also to convey a sense of character – a young man poised on the threshold of significant responsibilities.