The Great Triumphal Car of Emperor Maximilian

1523

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Great Triumphal Car of Emperor Maximilian is a 1523 by Albrecht Dürer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Dürer
When & what style?: 1523 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a long, fancy chariot rolling down a road, pulled by twelve strong horses. On top sits a king in a throne, with a winged woman holding a crown over his head. Every inch is covered in tiny words and symbols—flags, shields, even the horses’ harnesses have labels. Dürer never meant this to be painted. It’s a woodcut design for a giant print that would celebrate Emperor Maximilian like a Roman hero. The Latin words spell out virtues like “honor” and “glory,” turning the ruler into a walking lesson in power. If you like how words and pictures mix, look up Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528)—he did the same trick in his famous *Apocalypse* prints.

The story of this work

Overview

Dürer conceived this fantastical chariot as part of a larger commission to depict Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (reigned 1486–1519) in a triumphal procession. The ruler sits enthroned in the lavish car, as Victory holds a laurel wreath above his imperial crown. Her feathered wings list Maximilian’s military campaigns. Nearly every component of the allegorical pageant—from the entourage of female attendants to the laurel garlands—has a Latin label describing honorable qualities of an ideal prince. The car rolls on wheels of Magnificence, Honor, Dignity, and Glory. Its driver is Reason, who…

Read the full account in the museum source.