Artwork

A Message Concerning the White King's Marriage

A Message Concerning the White King's Marriage, by Hans Burgkmair the Elder, ink, 1502
A Message Concerning the White King's Marriage, by Hans Burgkmair the Elder, ink, 1502

A Message Concerning the White King's Marriage is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Burgkmair the Elder. It dates from 1502 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

A Message Concerning the White King's Marriage is a 1502 woodcut on laid paper by Hans Burgkmair I, depicting a formal scene with three figures in a grand, ornately decorated room.

Subject & Meaning

The woodcut shows a figure on a raised platform delivering a message, indicated by their gesture of holding a scroll and pointing, to two attendants below, suggesting an official announcement, potentially related to the White King's marriage.

Technique & Style

Executed in woodcut, the print features detailed, intricate designs, evident in the carved doors, moldings, columns, and a window with swirling patterns, characteristic of Burgkmair's attention to detail.

History & Provenance

Created in 1502 by Hans Burgkmair I, specific provenance details are not provided, though the work's existence attests to the artist's activity during this period.

Context

The formal setting, with its grand architecture, implies a courtly or ceremonial environment, aligning with the subject matter's implied connection to royal affairs.

Legacy

While the broader impact of this specific work is not detailed, it contributes to the understanding of 16th-century printmaking and Burgkmair's oeuvre, with the technique of woodcut itself being a notable aspect of early modern European art practices.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.