Portrait of Charles V of Spain

Portrait of Charles V; after Hans Weiditz; half-length, frontal view, the head in three-quarter profile to left; his hands resting on a parapet and holding a pomegranate; above the imperial arms flanked by two shields; arched borderline at top.

Woodcut, circa 1519/30, signed with the Durer’s monogram at lower right.

Lettered at the top center 'Karolus Rex Hispanii./ 1519'. Under the coat of arms :'Noch Weiter'.

Printed portraiture developed only in the first decades of the sixteenth century, at a time when the ruling classes became increasingly aware of the value of producing and distributing images of themselves. The present example depicts the young Charles V in the year he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.

Bibliografia

Dodgson 1903, 1911 II.170.54; Bartsch VII.189.41; Passavant 1860-64 / Le Peintre-Graveur (III.224.334b).