A retardation element containing a liquid crystalline compound, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1), a compound represented by the following formula (2) and a compound represented by the following formula (3). In the formula (1), n represents an integer of 3 to 10 and R2 represents a —CH2—CH2— group, a —CH2—CH(CH3)— group or a —CH2—CH2—CH2— group. In the formula (2), R3 represents a —(CH2)p— group or a phenylene group and p represents an integer of 4 to 8. In the formula (3), R4 represents a substituted phenylene group. In the formulas (1) to (3), R1-1, R1-2 and R1-3 each represent an alkyl group having a branched structure having 5 or more carbon atoms and R1-1, R1-2 and R1-3 may be the same or different.