← Lucas Vorsterman I

Portrait of Emperor Charles V

Original title: Portrait of Emperor Charles V

Artist

Lucas Vorsterman I

Date

ca. 1620–30

Medium

Engraving; only state

Dimensions

Sheet (Trimmed): 17 3/16 in. × 13 in. (43.7 × 33 cm)

Credit line

Gift of Georgiana W. Sargent, in memory of John Osborne Sargent, 1924

kurzbeschreibung

Around 1620–30, Lucas Vorsterman I engraved this portrait of Emperor Charles V on a copper plate. The ruler appears in richly decorated armour with a chain around his neck; behind him, parts of a coat of arms with helmet and sword are visible. Only one state of this print is known, and the sheet measures 43.7 × 33 cm.

Description

Charles V occupies the centre of the sheet, his body arranged with strict symmetry. He wears intricately worked armour and a chain; his expression is serious and withdrawn, his gaze meeting the viewer directly. Behind the figure, a coat of arms, a helmet and a sword can be made out. Gradations of light and dark emphasise the precise rendering of armour and facial features. Along the bottom edge, Latin inscriptions give the emperor's name and possibly that of the artist or patron.

Context

Vorsterman, a Flemish engraver, worked closely with Peter Paul Rubens and later served the English court. This portrait was made in the first half of the 17th century, long after Charles V's death in 1558. It belongs to a series of ruler portraits engraved after designs by other artists. Armour and insignia point to imperial power and Habsburg claims to rule, which remained significant in Europe after the Thirty Years' War.

Impact

The symmetrical arrangement and meticulous rendering of the armour give the print an air of authority and dignity. The emperor's serious, direct gaze creates an immediate presence, drawing the viewer into the image. Clear lines and precise shading make the portrait appear solemn and almost monumental.

Technique

For this work, a copper plate was worked with a burin — an intaglio process. The high level of detail in the armour and facial features demonstrates Vorsterman's skill in handling both fine and bold lines. The present example is the only known impression of this state and has been trimmed to the dimensions given.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)