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Charles V, by Jakob Seisenegger

Charles V, by Jakob Seisenegger (1505-1567), c. 1532. Charles V, by Jakob Seisenegger (1505-1567), c. 1532. Copyright Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria, acc. no. A024/1995.

The German artist, Jakob Seisenegger (1505-1567), painted a portrait of Charles V (1500-1559), Emperor of Germany and King of Spain (205 x 123 cm). The painting dates to c. 1532. The Emperor is depicted wearing an elaborate coat and hose in a richly woven, off-white cloth, and is acccompanied by his dog. The portrait was used by Titian in Bologna for his own painting of Charles V, now in the Prado, Madrid.

Charles V, painted by Titian, 1533 (Prado, Madrid).The Emperor's high position is further emphasised by the broad fur lapel on his coat. He is also wearing a gold coloured doublet with open front, which is decorated with fine cords in an intricate foliage design on either side of the front opening, and with two or more decorative bands slightly further away on either side. These two (or more) bands have the appearance of an interlaced knot design alternating with a rope. The cords used for these bands appear to have been couched down onto the ground material. If the identification of the technique is correct, then this is an early example of passementerie.

Jakob Seisenegger was the court painter for Ferdinand I at the Habsburg court at Augsburg. The painting is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria, acc. no. A024/1995.

Kunsthistorisches Museum online catalogue (retrieved 6 June 2016).

Digital source of illustration (17 August 2020).

GVE

Charles V, by Titian, now in the Prado, Madrid.

Last modified on Monday, 17 August 2020 17:48