Artwork
Count Philip Bellicosus
Count Philip Bellicosus is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1517 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
He’s wearing a bright red hat with a feather sticking up, a fur-lined coat, and a red robe with gold trim.
This portrait shows a young man in fancy clothes. He’s wearing a bright red hat with a feather sticking up, a fur-lined coat, and a red robe with gold trim. His hands rest on his chest, and he has a calm, serious look. The background is plain black, so all the focus is on him.
The name on the painting reads Philip and the date 1517, hinting this might be someone important. The artist used soft shadows to make his face look three-dimensional.
Next, look up Hans Baldung Grien to see how his style compares to other artists of the time.
Subject & Meaning
The work is a portrait depicting Philip, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg, who is identified as the main subject of the painting. Created in 1517 by Hans Baldung Grien, the piece presents the count in a formal manner consistent with the portrait genre. The title "Count Philip Bellicosus" suggests a specific characterization of the sitter, though the sources provided do not elaborate on the deeper symbolic meaning or specific iconographic details beyond his identity as the Duke.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on wood panel, measuring 41.5 cm in height by 30.8 cm in width. It portrays Philip, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg, rendered with the precise modeling and rich coloration characteristic of early sixteenth‑century German portraiture. The surface shows a smooth finish typical of Baldung’s workshop practice, while the composition emphasizes the sitter’s status through dignified pose and detailed clothing. The painting remains well preserved, with only minor craquelure along the edges consistent with its age.
History & Provenance
Count Philip Bellicosus is an oil-on-panel portrait painted by Hans Baldung Grien in 1517. The work depicts Philip, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg, and was created as part of the artist's portrait practice during that year.
The painting is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is currently housed at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. No further details of its commission, intermediate ownership, or acquisition history are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Hans Baldung Grien’s 1517 oil portrait presents Philip, Duke of Palatinate‑Neuburg, in a formal pose. Rendered on a dark ground, the figure dominates the composition, his attire and bearing indicating high status. The work exemplifies the Northern Renaissance’s attention to detail and the emerging interest in individualized portraiture.
Context
Created during a period when German artists were integrating Italian Renaissance ideas, the painting illustrates the Northern Renaissance’s blend of precise observation and symbolic ornamentation. Baldung’s work stands alongside contemporary portraiture that emphasized individual identity within a restrained, often austere setting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…
