Artwork
Jester of Charles III Philip Elector Palatine
Jester of Charles III Philip Elector Palatine is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Philipp von der Schlichten. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine, rendered as a court jester, a role that blends satire with representation of princely authority.
The painting portrays Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine, rendered as a court jester, a role that blends satire with representation of princely authority. Johann Philipp von der Schlichten depicts the elector in a garish costume, suggesting both the frivolity and the performative aspects of political power in early 18th‑century Bavaria. The work is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek and the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Munich.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a standard medium for European portraiture of the period. The composition centers on a full-length figure of the jester posed before a neutral backdrop, with attention to the textures of the sitter’s costume and accessories. The handling shows smooth modeling of flesh and fabric, with delicate highlights on the jester’s cap and ruff to convey three-dimensionality.
The palette is restrained, dominated by muted earth tones punctuated by the brighter accents of the costume’s red and gold details. No losses or restorations are mentioned in the record, suggesting the work remains in a stable condition.
History & Provenance
The painting Jester of Charles III Philip Elector Palatine was created in 1710 by Johann Philipp von der Schlichten as a portrait of the court jester associated with Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine. The work entered the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, which later placed it at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and the Germanisches Nationalmuseum. The painting depicts the Elector Palatine alongside his jester, with dimensions recorded as 94.5 cm in height and 74.2 cm in width. Its genre aligns with court portraiture, emphasizing the subject’s social and political context within the Palatinate court.
The Jester of Charles III Philip Elector Palatine is held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections, with a specific location noted at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, Germany. The work is also associated with the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, which is listed alongside the Alte Pinakothek as a holding institution for this portrait by Johann Philipp von der Schlichten. No specific inventory or accession numbers are provided in the available records.
The sources do not document any exhibition history for the painting, nor do they list past or future display schedules.
Overview
Johann Philipp von der Schlichten’s oil portrait, dated 1710, presents the Elector Palatine Charles III Philip in full regalia. The work is part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it is displayed among other early‑18th‑century court portraits.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Philipp von der Schlichten
Johann Philipp von der Schlichten (1681–1745) was an artist, born in Rotterdam.
- Portrait of a man, possibly Christian II Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (1637-1717)
Nicolas Catinat, Maréchal de France
Self-portrait
Nicholas Boileau
Self-portrait (?)
Fürstenbildnis
Charles-Rene d'Hozier
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Portrait of Louis XIV
Joseph Parrocel
Bildnis eines Mannes
Portrait of Louis XIV