[Illustration: ALBRECHT DÜRER. ERASMUS OF ROTTERDAM Size of the original engraving, 9⅞ × 7⅝ inches In the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston] In 1519 we have the first of Dürer’s engraved portraits--_Albert of Brandenburg, “The Little Cardinal”_ to distinguish it from the larger plate of 1523. Opinions as to Dürer’s importance as a portrait engraver vary considerably. Some students feel that in these later works the engraver has become so engrossed in the delight of his craft that he has failed to concentrate his attention upon the countenance and character of the sitter, bestowing excessive care upon the accessories and the minor accidents of surface textures--wrinkles and similar unimportant matters. On the other hand, such an authority as Koehler maintains that the _Albert of Brandenburg_, preeminent for delicacy and noble simplicity among these portrait engravings by Dürer, “will always be ranked among the best portraits engraved anywhere and at any time.” _Frederic the Wise, Elector of Saxony_, was one of the earliest patrons of Dürer, founder of the University of Wittenberg and a supporter of the Reformation, although he never openly embraced the doctrines of Martin Luther. Dürer’s drawing in silver-point gives a straightforward and characterful presentation of the man, and, in this instance, translation into the terms of engraving has nowise lessened the directness of appeal. _Erasmus of Rotterdam_ bears the latest date (1526) which we find upon any engraving by Dürer, and it well may be his last plate. Here the elaboration and finish bestowed upon the accessories certainly detract from the portrait interest. Erasmus was polite enough, when he saw this engraving, to excuse its unlikeness to himself by remarking that doubtless he had changed much during the five years which had intervened between Dürer’s drawing of 1521 and the completion of the plate. Technically, however, it is a masterpiece, a worthy close to the career of undoubtedly the greatest engraver Germany has produced. GERMAN ENGRAVING: THE MASTER OF THE AMSTERDAM CABINET AND ALBRECHT DÜRER BIBLIOGRAPHY MASTER OF THE AMSTERDAM CABINET (flourished c. 1467-c. 1500) ZUR ZEITBESTIMMUNG DER STICHE DES HAUSBUCH-MEISTERS. _By Curt Glaser._ Monatshefte für Kunstwissenschaft, Vol. 3, pp. 145-156. Leipzig. 1910. THE MASTER OF THE AMSTERDAM CABINET. _By Max Lehrs._ 89 reproductions. London. 1894. (International Chalcographical Society. 1893 and 1894.) BILDER UND ZEICHNUNGEN VOM MEISTER DES HAUSBUCHS. _By Max Lehrs._ 5 illustrations. Jahrbuch der königlichen preussischen Kunstsammlungen, Vol. 20, pp. 173-182. Berlin. 1899. THE MASTER OF THE AMSTERDAM CABINET AND TWO NEW WORKS BY HIS HAND. _By Willy F. Storck._ 6 illustrations. The Burlington Magazine. Vol. 18, pp. 184-192. London. 1910. DÜRER, ALBRECHT (1471-1528) LE PEINTRE-GRAVEUR. _By Adam Bartsch._ Volume 7, pp. 5-197. Albert Durer, Vienna. 1803-1821.