Getty Museum
Blazon of Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg
Creator
Simon BeningFlemish Illuminator · 1483–1561
All works by this person →One of the most celebrated painters of Flanders in the 1500s, Simon Bening was hailed by Portuguese art critic Francisco da Hollanda as the greatest master of illumination in all of Europe. In addition to producing books for powerful aristocrats such as Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, Bening worked for a group of international royal patrons including Emperor Charles V and Don Fernando, the Infan
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1525–1530
- Medium
- Tempera colors, gold paint, and gold leaf
- Culture
- Flemish
- Department
- Manuscripts
- Institution
- Getty Museum
This coat of arms represents the different aspects of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, not only a powerful political and ecclesiastical figure but also one of the most discerning patrons of Flemish art of the 1500s. A red cardinal's hat, whose ropes loop around into knots with a calligraphic flourish, sits atop a crucifix. The cross, crozier, and sword refer to the cardinal's sacred and secular duties, including his roles as elector and archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg. The heraldic symbols on the shield, mostly variants on griffins, refer to Albrecht's noble lineage. The image's rich, sensual quality emphasizes the patron's delight in the senses.
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