Equestrian Portrait of the Emperor Maximilian
Presented in full profile, the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (reigned 1486–1519) and his mount emulate a classical equestrian portrait statue. The Latin abbreviations inscribed at the top of the page describe him as “August Emperor Caesar Maximilian,” a title conceptually equating him with the leaders of the ancient Roman Empire. The two-headed eagle on the banner is the emblem of his dynastic family, the Hapsburgs. This exceptionally rare chiaroscuro woodcut— printed with black and white inks on paper prepared with tinted wash—represents one of the earliest experiments with this techniqu...
Details
- Palette
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Select a color to find related artworks.
- Dimensions
- sheet: height 0.323 m, width 0.227 m
- Origin
- Germany
- Department
- Prints
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image provider
- cleveland-museum-of-art
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Credit
- John L. Severance Fund
Art Genome Taxonomy
12 tags
Subject Matter
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Equestrian Both · 99%
The composition prominently depicts an armored rider mounted on a horse, and the museum title identifies the work as an equestrian portrait.
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Individual Portrait Both · 98%
A single identifiable male sitter is shown in profile; museum metadata identifies him as Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and classifies the image as a portrait.
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Political Figures Both · 97%
The sitter is a Holy Roman Emperor, presented with an imperial Latin inscription, armor, heraldic imagery, and ceremonial regalia.
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References to Art History Both · 95%
Museum metadata explicitly states that Maximilian and his mount emulate a classical equestrian portrait statue; the monumental profile composition supports this art-historical reference.
Visual Qualities
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Highly Detailed Visual · 98%
Armor, horse tack, feathers, heraldic devices, architectural ornament, floor tiles, and textile patterns are rendered with extensive fine detail.
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Linear Forms Visual · 97%
Parallel hatching, crosshatching, and sharply articulated contours organize the figures, architecture, drapery, and floor.
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Dark Colors Visual · 95%
The image is dominated by dark blue-gray and black tones, with lighter printed highlights and exposed blue paper providing contrast.
Medium and Techniques
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Chiaroscuro Metadata · 99%
The Cleveland Museum of Art identifies the work as an exceptionally rare chiaroscuro woodcut printed in black and white on blue-washed paper.
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Woodcut and Linocut Metadata · 99%
The recorded medium is woodcut, which is also visually consistent with the carved linework and printed tonal areas.
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Work on Paper Both · 99%
The object is a sheet-based print on paper, with museum-recorded sheet dimensions and a blue paper wash.
Time Periods
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16th Century Art Metadata · 99%
The museum dates the work to 1508, placing it in the sixteenth century.
Geographic Regions
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German Art Metadata · 99%
The artist is identified as German and the place of origin is recorded as Germany.
Source & rights
Hans Burgkmair (German, 1473–1531). Equestrian Portrait of the Emperor Maximilian. Cleveland Museum of Art.