Kurfürst Max III. Joseph von Bayern (zugeschrieben)

The sitter, Max III Joseph, is shown with a sober expression, his hair fashioned in the contemporary fashion of the period. He holds a hat in his right hand and a sword in his left, symbols of his military authority and noble rank, underscoring the political power associated with the Electorate of Bavaria.

Desmarées employs a dark, muted background that intensifies the luminous rendering of the subject’s richly ornamented costume. Fine brushwork captures the intricate patterns of the fabric and the gleam of metal on the sword, while subtle chiaroscuro models the facial features, reflecting the refined portraiture conventions of the Rococo era.

Created in 1736, the portrait was likely commissioned to commemorate the Elector’s position. It entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings during the museum’s formation in the early 19th century, where it remains part of the Germanic portrait collection, attributed to Desmarées based on stylistic analysis and archival records.

The painting belongs to a broader tradition of court portraiture that flourished in the Holy Roman Empire, where rulers were portrayed with regalia to affirm legitimacy. Desmarées, a Swedish‑born artist active in Munich, contributed to this visual culture, blending Northern European precision with the decorative sensibilities of Southern German courts.