Portrait of Albert, Archduke of Austria, Sovereign of the Southern Netherlands
Original title: Portrait of Albert, Archduke of Austria, Sovereign of the Southern Netherlands
kurzbeschreibung
In 1615 Jan Muller released an engraving of Archduke Albert of Austria, who governed the Southern Netherlands as sovereign. Albert is shown in sumptuous robes trimmed with fur. This impression is the fourth state of four; the plate measures 42.3 × 29.8 cm.
Description
The Archduke's face carries a serious, thoughtful gaze. His clothing is richly patterned, with a fur cloak layered over it. A paneled wooden wainscot forms the backdrop; to the left stands a piece of furniture holding a plant. Along the bottom edge runs a Latin poem that addresses the sitter as 'Serenissimo et potentissimo Alberto'.
Context
From 1598 Albert VII of Austria ruled the Southern Netherlands jointly with his wife, Isabella Clara Eugenia. By 1615, the year of publication, the Archduke was at the height of his power. The Dutch engraver Jan Muller made this print after a painting by Peter Paul Rubens that shows Albert in his princely regalia.
Impact
Splendid attire and the serious gaze give the portrait an air of authority and dignity. The meticulous rendering of fabrics and fur makes the surfaces almost tangible, placing the viewer directly in the courtly sphere of the seventeenth century.
Technique
In engraving, lines are incised into a copper plate and then printed. The fourth state may include revisions or additions compared with earlier impressions, indicating careful artistic oversight.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)