Artwork

Susanna von Brandenburg, Gemahlin Ottheinrichs (Seitenverkehrte Kopie nach Inv.-Nr. 2450) (Kopie nach)

Susanna von Brandenburg, Gemahlin Ottheinrichs (Seitenverkehrte Kopie nach Inv.-Nr. 2450) (Kopie nach) is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Barthel Beham. It dates from 1531 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

This small portrait, executed around 1531 by the German painter Bartolomeus (Barthel) Beham, represents Susanna von Brandenburg, the consort of Elector Ottheinrich. The work is a reversed copy of an original listed under inventory number 2450 and is presently displayed in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is identified as Susanna, daughter of Elector Joachim I of Brandenburg and wife of Ottheinrich of Palatinate. The portrait emphasizes her noble status through sumptuous attire and accessories, reflecting the conventions of early‑sixteenth‑century court portraiture that aimed to convey lineage and marital alliance.

Technique & Style

Rendered in oil on panel, the figure stands against a dark, non‑descriptive background, allowing the elaborate costume to dominate the composition. Beham’s handling features fine brushwork in the patterned pleated skirt, puffed sleeves, and a feather‑adorned hat, while the facial features are rendered with restrained detail, typical of his precise yet somewhat stylized approach.

History & Provenance

The painting is a later copy of an earlier portrait, reversed in orientation, and was catalogued under inventory number 2450 in the collection of the Wittelsbach family. It entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings as part of the museum’s acquisition of the Wittelsbach court artworks in the 19th century.

Context

Barthel Beham, a member of the renowned Beham brothers, worked in the artistic milieu of Nuremberg, where he absorbed influences from both Northern Renaissance realism and emerging Italianate motifs. Portraits of aristocratic women such as Susanna served diplomatic purposes, reinforcing political ties between the Brandenburg and Palatinate courts.