Who painted A Member of the Fröschl Family?

A Member of the Fröschl Family was painted by Hans Muelich in c. 1539/1540.

Where can I see A Member of the Fröschl Family?

A Member of the Fröschl Family is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Member of the Fröschl Family?

A Member of the Fröschl Family is associated with Mannerism.

Can I buy a print of A Member of the Fröschl Family?

Museum-quality prints of A Member of the Fröschl Family are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Member of the Fröschl Family

Hans Muelich , 1540

A Member of the Fröschl Family is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Hans Muelich. It dates from 1540 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:center reverse coat-of-arms: (gules, a powert sejant-erect); lower center reverse: E.G.V.[?]Z.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work is a 1539 oil portrait on panel depicting an unidentified member of the Fröschl family, a subject identified by its title.

The work is a 1539 oil portrait on panel depicting an unidentified member of the Fröschl family, a subject identified by its title. The sitter is rendered in the conventions of German Renaissance portraiture, emphasizing familial affiliation and social status. Measured at 64.2 cm in height and 47 cm in width, the piece exemplifies the genre of portraiture and was executed by Hans Muelich.

Its provenance, from the Northwick collection through several private owners to the National Gallery of Art, underscores its historical significance as a representative example of 16th‑century family portraiture.

Technique & Style

Hans Mielich executed A Member of the Fröschl Family in 1539 using oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 64.2 cm in height and 47 cm in width. Classified as a portrait, the painting demonstrates the formal qualities typical of the genre during the mid-sixteenth century.

The surface retains the physical characteristics of a panel painting, consistent with the medium and date recorded in the artwork's history.

History & Provenance

Hans Mielich painted A Member of the Fröschl Family in 1539, an oil on panel portrait measuring 64.2 cm by 47 cm. The work first appears in the collection of John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick, at Thirlestane House, Cheltenham, and was later sold at the 1859 Thirlestane House auction. It entered the possession of Alfred Morrison by 1887, passing through his son Hugh Morrison and then to John Granville Morrison, 1st Baron Margadale, before being sold at Christie's in 1980. The painting was subsequently owned by P. & D. Colnaghi & Co. in New York and acquired by the National Gallery of Art in November 1984.

The painting A Member of the Fröschl Family (1539, oil on panel, 64.2 × 47 cm) is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C., where it has been listed in the museum’s catalogue since its acquisition in November 1984. Its provenance traces from the Northwick collection at Thirlestane House, through the ownership of Alfred Morrison and his descendants, to a Christie’s sale in 1980, and finally to purchase by the National Gallery of Art. No exhibition records are noted in the available documentation.

Overview

Hans Mielich's oil on panel painting, A Member of the Fröschl Family, dates to approximately 1540. This portrait depicts an unidentified man, likely a member of the prominent Fröschl lineage, presented in a formal pose. The artwork serves as an example of German Renaissance portraiture, capturing the individual's likeness and social standing through meticulous detail and composition.