Who painted King Ferdinand I?

King Ferdinand I was painted by Barthel Beham in 1531.

Where can I see King Ferdinand I?

King Ferdinand I is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is King Ferdinand I?

King Ferdinand I is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of King Ferdinand I?

Museum-quality prints of King Ferdinand I are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

King Ferdinand I

Barthel Beham , 1531

King Ferdinand I is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Barthel Beham. It dates from 1531 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Barthel Beham’s 1531 engraving presents a portrait of King Ferdinand I rendered in crisp black‑and‑white lines. The work depicts the monarch with a composed expression, his hair neatly curled and a ruffled collar framing his shoulders. The image is executed on laid paper, a common support for prints of the period.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is identified by a Latin legend beneath the portrait, naming the sitter as King Ferdinand I. The sober demeanor and subtle turn of the head convey a sense of regal authority, while the inclusion of a chain suggests his status and honors.

Technique & Style

Beham employs fine, incised lines to delineate the folds of the ruffled collar, the texture of the hair, and the metallic sheen of the chain. The engraving’s high contrast between dark shadows and bright paper highlights the precision typical of German printmaking in the early sixteenth century.

History & Provenance

Created in 1531, the print reflects the growing demand for portraiture of European rulers during the Reformation era. While the original ownership trail is not fully documented, the work has been catalogued among Beham’s known prints and appears in several early modern print collections.

Context

Barthel Beham, a member of the so‑called “Little Masters,” worked within a tradition of small‑scale, highly detailed engravings that circulated widely among collectors. Portraits of monarchs like Ferdinand I served both as political propaganda and as collectible images for a burgeoning market of print enthusiasts.