Emperor Maximilian I. (1459–1519),

(1459–1519) 1519, Artist: Albrecht Dürer

 

 

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.

Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Saal XI

Object data

Object Name

Painting

Culture

German

Dated

(1459–1519) 1519

Artist

Albrecht Dürer (1471 Nürnberg - 1528 Nürnberg) - GND

Material

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 ."

Image rights

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie

Inv. No.

Gemäldegalerie, 825

Provenance

1783 documented in the gallery

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