Emperor Rudolf II
circa 1592 (dated post hoc 1594) | Joseph Heintz d. Ä.
This portrait is probably among the earliest works commissioned by the Emperor from Heintz after he had made him court painter in 1591. Apart from the Order of the Golden Fleece, which denotes the sitter’s elevated rank, this portrait of the Habsburg ruler is remarkably unpretentious. Despite its almost private, intimate character, accentuated by the small format, the likeness probably informed countless later portraits of the Emperor (see, for example, Hans von Aachen’s portrait in Gallery IX).
This portrait is probably among the earliest works commissioned by the Emperor from Heintz after he had made him court painter in 1591. Apart from the Order of the Golden Fleece, which denotes the sitter’s elevated rank, this portrait of the Habsburg ruler is remarkably unpretentious. Despite its almost private, intimate character, accentuated by the small format, the likeness probably informed countless later portraits of the Emperor (see, for example, Hans von Aachen’s portrait in Gallery IX).
Artist:
Joseph Heintz d. Ä. (1564 Basel - 1609 Prag) DNB
Depiction/Person:
Rudolf II. (1576-1612), Kaiser, römischer König ab 1575, König von Ungarn ab 1572, von Böhmen se (1552 - 1612) DNB
Time:
circa 1592 (dated post hoc 1594)
Object Name
Painting
Culture
German
Material/technology:
copper
Dimensions:
16,2 cm × 12,7 cm
Framed: 26,5 cm × 23 cm × 3 cm
Signed
probably inscribed later at upper left: AN° 1594
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 1124
Provenance
From the treasury of Rudolf II (?)