Who painted Pfalzgraf Friedrich II. der Weise?

Pfalzgraf Friedrich II. der Weise was painted by Hans Wertinger in 1509.

Where can I see Pfalzgraf Friedrich II. der Weise?

Pfalzgraf Friedrich II. der Weise is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

Artwork

Pfalzgraf Friedrich II. der Weise

Pfalzgraf Friedrich II. der Weise is an unspecified painting by Hans Wertinger. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

The work is a portrait of the Palatine Count Frederick II, known as "the Wise," executed by the German painter Hans Wertinger around 1509. Rendered in oil on panel, the image forms part of the early 16th‑century portrait tradition in the Upper Bavarian region. It is presently displayed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it contributes to the museum’s collection of Renaissance court portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, Frederick II, served as Count Palatine of the Rhine and was celebrated for his patronage of learning and the arts. The portrait presents him in the attire of his rank, emphasizing his authority and intellectual reputation. By foregrounding his dignified pose and regalia, the painting underscores the political status and cultured identity that the count cultivated during his reign.

Technique & Style

Wertinger employs a restrained palette of muted earth tones, allowing the figure’s facial features and embroidered garments to emerge with subtle modeling.

Wertinger employs a restrained palette of muted earth tones, allowing the figure’s facial features and embroidered garments to emerge with subtle modeling. The brushwork is fine and controlled, typical of the late Gothic to early Renaissance transition in southern Germany. Attention to detail appears especially in the rendering of the fur trim and jeweled insignia, reflecting the artist’s skill in depicting texture.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1509, the portrait entered the collection of the Bavarian state museums in the 19th century, eventually finding a permanent home in the Alte Pinakothek. Documentation traces its acquisition to the museum’s efforts to assemble a representative group of regional court portraits, highlighting the work’s relevance to the cultural heritage of the Palatinate.