Artwork

Bildnis des Ernst von Bayern, Erzbischof von Köln, Sohn Herzog Albrechts V. (1554-1612)

Bildnis des Ernst von Bayern, Erzbischof von Köln, Sohn Herzog Albrechts V. (1554-1612) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Hans Werl. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The subject is presented as the main focus of the composition, reflecting his high status within the Bavarian lineage and the Catholic Church.

The painting depicts Ernest of Bavaria, identified as the Archbishop of Cologne and son of Duke Albert V. Created in 1601 by Hans Werl, the work functions as a formal portrait of this specific ecclesiastical and noble figure. The subject is presented as the main focus of the composition, reflecting his high status within the Bavarian lineage and the Catholic Church. The depiction serves to establish the identity and authority of Ernest in his dual role as a prince and a church leader.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on panel, a support typical of early seventeenth-century German portraiture. The work measures 97.1 cm in height by 71.4 cm in width, giving it a standard upright half-length format suitable for an ecclesiastical sitter. Hans Werl's handling reflects the portrait conventions of the period, presenting Ernest of Bavaria, Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, in a formal likeness consistent with courtly and ecclesiastical commissions of the Bavarian Wittelsbach circle around 1601.

No specific information on condition, surface handling, or stylistic details beyond the medium and support is documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

Hans Werl painted the portrait of Ernest of Bavaria, Archbishop of Cologne, in 1601 as a commissioned work. The painting was created using oil on panel, measuring 97.1 cm in height and 71.4 cm in width. It entered the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been housed at the Alte Pinakothek since its acquisition.

The portrait is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is located at the Alte Pinakothek. The work measures 97.1 cm in height and 71.4 cm in width. No specific inventory number or exhibition history for this piece is provided in the available sources.

Overview

This oil painting, created in 1601 by Hans Werl, is a portrait of a prominent historical figure. It is currently held at the Alte Pinakothek.