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.
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
Depiction/Person
Kaiser Maximilian I. Sohn d. Friedrich III. von Habsburg (1459 - 1519) - GND
Permalink (citable Link) to this page: www.khm.at/en/object/617/
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