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Emperor Maximilian I. (1459–1519),

(1459–1519) 1519 | Albrecht Dürer

The emperor is depicted here as an elegant private gentleman. The desired effect of dignity and power is achieved by the manner in which the emperor fills the frame and the brilliant execution of the fur collar. Several different interpretation have been suggested for the pomegranate in the emperor’s hand: as a private proxy for the imperial orb; as a reference to the myth of Persephone and thus a reference to death; and as an allusion to the conquest of Granada by the Christian armies in 1492.

Emperor Maximilian I. (1459–1519),

The emperor is depicted here as an elegant private gentleman. The desired effect of dignity and power is achieved by the manner in which the emperor fills the frame and the brilliant execution of the fur collar. Several different interpretation have been suggested for the pomegranate in the emperor’s hand: as a private proxy for the imperial orb; as a reference to the myth of Persephone and thus a reference to death; and as an allusion to the conquest of Granada by the Christian armies in 1492.

Artist:
Albrecht Dürer (1471 Nürnberg - 1528 Nürnberg) DNB

Depiction/Person:
Maximilian I. (1477-1519), seit 1493 deutscher König, 1508 Kaiser (1459 - 1519) DNB

Time:
(1459–1519) 1519

Object Name
Painting

Culture
German

Material/technology:
Limewood

Dimensions:
Overall: 74 cm × 62 cm × 2 cm
Framed: 92,6 cm × 79,6 cm × 9,5 cm

Signed
Inscribed with the monogram at upper right; dat. 1519

Inscribed
links oben der kaiserliche Wappenschild, von der Kette des goldenen Vlieses umgeben; rechts davon die Inschrift: POTENTISSIMVS . MAXIMVS . ET . INVICTISSIMVS . CÆSAR . MAXIMILIANVS / QVI . CVNCTOS . SVI . TEMPORIS . REGES . ET . PRINCIPES . IVSTICIA . PRVDENCIA / MAGNANIMITATE . LIBERALITATE PRÆCIPVE . VERO . BELLICA . LAVDE . ET / ANIMI . FORTITVDINE . SVPERAVIT . NATVS . EST . ANNO . SALVTIS . HVMANÆ / .M.CCCC.LIX. DIE . MARCII . IX . VIXIT . ANNOS . LIX . MENSES . IX . DIES . XXV / DECESSIT . VERO . ANNO .M.D.XIX. MENSIS . IANVARII . DIE . XII . QVEM . DEVS / OPT . MAX . IN . NVMERVM . VIVENCIVM . REFERRE . VELIT ."

Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie

Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 825

Provenance
1783 documented in the gallery