François Ier du Saint-Empire et sa collection d'histoire naturelle

The painting François Ier du Saint-Empire et sa collection d'histoire naturelle was created by Johann Zoffany in 1776, as confirmed by both internal and Wikidata sources. The work is classified as an oil-on-canvas portrait, measuring 232 cm in height and 149 cm in width, and is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The composition depicts Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, surrounded by a cabinet of curiosities that includes scientific instruments such as a telescope and armillary sphere, as well as naturalia like seashells and coins.

The painting’s inception date aligns with Zoffany’s documented activity in the mid-1770s, and its presence in the Kunsthistorisches Museum indicates it has remained in institutional custody since at least the late 18th century.

The painting 'François Ier du Saint-Empire et sa collection d'histoire naturelle' by Johann Zoffany is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created between 1776 and 1777, this oil on canvas work depicts Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, surrounded by various objects including a telescope, armillary sphere, and seashells. While the sources confirm its location within the museum's holdings, they do not provide a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they list any past or current exhibitions where the piece has been displayed.

The 1776 oil portrait by Johann Zoffany, documented in, portrays Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, surrounded by objects that reference natural history, including a telescope, armillary sphere, seashell, and sheet music. Its placement in the Kunsthistorisches Museum has made it a reference point for studies of Enlightenment-era royal patronage of science, illustrating how monarchic imagery incorporated scientific symbols to signal enlightened governance. Scholars cite the work when examining the visual culture of natural history collections, noting its role in shaping the iconography of scientific authority within aristocratic portraiture.

This oil painting, titled "François Ier du Saint-Empire et sa collection d'histoire naturelle," presents a man in a brown coat and white wig. He stands within a room, holding a small object while engaged with a table displaying various scientific and artistic instruments. The composition evokes an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity and discovery, underscoring the subject's involvement with his personal collection.