Artwork
Emperor Maximilian I
Emperor Maximilian I is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1519 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s oil portrait of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I was completed in 1519. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria, and presents the ruler in a formal, seated pose.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Maximilian I, the reigning emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, emphasizing his authority and status through regal attire and a composed expression. It reflects the political importance of imperial portraiture in the early sixteenth century.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on panel, the portrait shows Dürer’s meticulous handling of detail, especially in the rendering of fabrics and facial features. The composition follows a conventional frontal format, while subtle variations in clothing differentiate it from Dürer’s related works.
History & Provenance
Dürer first met Maximilian in Augsburg in 1518, producing a preparatory drawing now housed in the Albertina, Vienna. From that study he created two painted versions and a woodcut. The Vienna museum acquired the oil painting sometime after its completion, where it remains on display.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.
![Madonna and Child [obverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--madonna-and-child-obverse--d7b8ebf05d22ebe5-w320.webp)
![Lot and His Daughters [reverse], by Albrecht Dürer](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/albrecht-durer--lot-and-his-daughters-reverse--b4ebf9b282faa17a-w320.webp)
