Portrait of Emperor Charles V

Copyright

Work in the public domain
Image: Courtauld
by-nc

Maker


1577-1640
After

1488-1576

Title

Portrait of Emperor Charles V

Date of Production

1628-29?

Medium

oil on canvas (cut down)

Dimensions

Height: 76.3 cm (canvas)
Width: 56.6 cm (canvas)

Object Number

P.1978.PG.351

Mode of Acquisition

Count Antoine Seilern, bequest, 1978

Credit

Courtauld Gallery, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Location

Not currently on display
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Keywords

Label Text

This is a partial copy by Peter Paul Rubens of a renowned equestrian portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who ruled over much of Europe in the first half of the 16th century. The original was painted by the Italian Renaissance artist Titian in 1548 and is today in the Prado museum in Madrid. Rubens travelled to Spain twice on diplomatic missions, in 1603 and 1628, staying for several months each time. He would have seen the famous portrait in the Spanish royal collection and copied the head and shoulders of the emperor, depicted in full armour on the battlefield. For Rubens, copying was a way to understand better the work of artists he admired but also of measuring himself against them.

Provenance

Probably no. 79 (as by Van Dyck) in inventory compiled after Rubens' death; probably Antoine van Leyen (1628-86), Antwerp; Prince Belosselsky, Russia, shortly before 1936; acquired by Count Seilern, London, 1936; Princes Gate Bequest 1978.

Exhibition History

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Musée de Luxembourg, Paris, 03/10/2017-15/01/2018
Rubens Triumph - Krieg-Politik-Malerei, Von der Heydt Museum & Wuppertal & Germany, 14/10/2012-28/02/2013
Looking and Admiring Rubens in competition with Old Masters, Alte Pinakothek & Munich & Germany, 21/10/2009-03/02/2010
...More
Titien - Le pouvoir en face, Musée de Luxembourg, Paris, 13/09/2006-21/01/2007
Rubens - Drawing on Italy, Nottingham & England, 20/09/2002-08/12/2002
Rubens - Drawing on Italy, Edinburgh & Scotland, 28/05/2002-18/08/2002
Rubens and Italy, National Gallery of Victoria & Melborne & Australia, 29/06/1992-30/08/1992
Rubens and Italy, National Gallery of Australia & Canberra & Australia, 28/03/1992-08/06/1992
...Less

Literature

Jaffé, Michael, Rubens and Italy, Oxford 1977
p. 69
Fig. p. pl. 220?

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