Little Masters

The little master was a active in the first half of the 16th century group of artists who produced small, sometimes only stamp-sized prints. Mostly, these were to detail executed engravings. In their works, the little master processed alongside religious, mythological, historical and allegorical subjects and descriptions of everyday life or politics. Because of the strong reference to reality can be in everyday descriptions draw parallels to genre painting. The ornamental engravings of minor masters are inspired by the Italian Renaissance art.

A unique classification and delimitation of the concept proves difficult. Sometimes the small masters only Hans Sebald, Barthel Beham and Georg Pencz who lived for a time in Nuremberg, counted. Many cases, however other artists, partly also from France and the Netherlands, reckoned to them. The little master had on other art areas, such as panel paintings, works.

The term " little master " has already been used in 1679 by Joachim von Sandrart.