Artwork
Portrait of the painter Hans Burgkmair (1473) and his wife Anna
Portrait of the painter Hans Burgkmair (1473) and his wife Anna is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lukas Furtenagel. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1529, this oil‑on‑panel work by Lukas Furtenagel presents the elder painter Hans Burgkmair and his wife Anna standing side by side before a dark backdrop. The couple is rendered with sober expressions; the man’s hand rests on his chest while the woman holds an ornate, skull‑shaped mirror. The composition emphasizes the figures’ faces through a restrained use of light and shadow.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait records Burgkmair, a prominent Augsburg artist born in 1473, together with his spouse Anna, linking personal identity with professional lineage. The inclusion of a skull‑form mirror alludes to vanitas themes common in the period, reminding viewers of mortality and the fleeting nature of worldly status.
Technique & Style
Furtenagel employs a Northern Renaissance visual language, marked by meticulous detail and a subtle chiaroscuro that models the figures against the deep background. The oil medium allows fine rendering of textures—the sheen of the man’s dark robe with red lining, the crisp white collar, and the reflective surface of the mirror.
History & Provenance
A pupil of Burgkmair and briefly associated with Lucas Cranach the Elder’s workshop, Furtenagel painted this piece early in his career, likely as a tribute to his teacher. The painting entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains on public display.
Context
The work reflects early sixteenth‑century German portrait conventions, where symbolic objects such as mirrors and skulls were inserted to convey moral messages. Its composition aligns with contemporary practices of depicting married couples together, underscoring both personal bond and social standing within the artistic community of Augsburg.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lukas Furtenagel (1505–1546) was a painter from the Holy Roman Empire. Lukas (Laux) Furtenagel was born in Augsburg in 1505 to a family of artists. He began studying art at a young age and was a protégé of painter Hans…
