Artwork
Portrait of Sibilla Eiselin aged 29
Portrait of Sibilla Eiselin aged 29 is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Christoph Amberger. It dates from 1539 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created in 1539, this oil portrait presents Sibilla Eiselin at the age of twenty‑nine.
About this work
The artist's use of dark colors and the subject's formal pose also contribute to the overall sense of solemnity in the painting.
This portrait depicts a woman with a serious expression, wearing a black dress with a white collar and a brown cape. She has a ring on her left hand and a black hat on her head. The background of the painting is dark, which helps to highlight the subject's features.
The woman's attire and the style of the painting suggest that it was created in the 16th century. The artist's use of dark colors and the subject's formal pose also contribute to the overall sense of solemnity in the painting.
If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this portrait, you might want to look up Christoph Amberger.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Sibilla Eiselin aged 29 was produced by Christoph Amberger in 1539. The painting is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains on display. The work measures 54.8 cm in height by 47.2 cm in width.
The available sources do not document the original commission, the sitter's relationship to Amberger, or the chain of ownership prior to the painting's acquisition by the Kunsthistorisches Museum. No intermediate collectors, dealers, or transfer dates are recorded in the provided material.
The painting is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Its dimensions are recorded as 54.8 cm in height by 47.2 cm in width.
No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history is recorded.
Context
Christoph Amberger painted Portrait of Sibilla Eiselin aged 29 in 1539, depicting a member of a prominent Augsburg merchant family connected to the Fugger network. The work remains in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, where it is recognized as a significant example of Northern Renaissance portraiture emphasizing psychological presence and fine textile rendering. Scholarship highlights its role within Amberger's oeuvre as a bridge between Northern realism and Italianate compositional influences, though debate persists regarding the sitter's precise aristocratic affiliations and the painting's condition following 19th-century restorations.
The portrait's provenance is well-documented through the museum's collection records, affirming its status as a cornerstone work in studies of 16th-century German portraiture.
Legacy
The portrait of Sibilla Eiselin aged 29 by Christoph Amberger, painted in 1539, has been recognized for its contribution to Renaissance portraiture, influencing later interpretations of elite female representation in Northern European art. Its inclusion in the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien's collection has ensured continued scholarly attention to Amberger's role in shaping portrait conventions of the period.
Overview
Created in 1539, this oil portrait presents Sibilla Eiselin at the age of twenty‑nine. Executed by Augsburg‑based painter Christoph Amberger, a pupil of Hans Holbein, the work exemplifies the early‑modern German portrait tradition. It is presently part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Sibilla Eiselin, is shown with a composed, solemn expression, her gaze directed slightly off‑canvas. She wears a black dress trimmed with a white ruff, a brown mantle, and a modest black hat, while a simple ring rests on her left hand. The restrained demeanor and attire convey the social respectability expected of a woman of her standing in the mid‑sixteenth century.
Technique & Style
Amberger employs a limited palette of deep, muted tones, allowing the dark background to frame the figure and accentuate the delicate modeling of flesh. The brushwork is precise yet soft, characteristic of the German Mannerist tendency toward refined surface detail. Light falls gently on the face and hands, creating subtle chiaroscuro that enhances the portrait’s dignified atmosphere.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christoph Amberger (c. 1505 – 1562) was a painter of Augsburg in the sixteenth century, a disciple of Hans Holbein, his principal work being the history of Joseph in twelve pictures.
