Where can I see Charles the Bold?

Charles the Bold is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Charles the Bold?

Charles the Bold is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Charles the Bold

Charles the Bold is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1618 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, portrayed in three-quarter view against a dark background.

The painting depicts Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, portrayed in three-quarter view against a dark background. Rubens conveys the ruler’s authority through direct gaze and the rich fur-lined garment that signals high status. The subject’s stern expression and the restrained yet luxurious attire emphasize power and dynastic identity, aligning with early-seventeenth-century noble portrait conventions.

The work’s focus on a historical Burgundian duke reflects the period’s interest in reviving and monumentalizing powerful figures from the past, situating Charles the Bold as a symbol of political legacy and martial prowess.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1618, this portrait of Charles the Bold is an oil painting on canvas by Peter Paul Rubens. The work measures 118.5 cm in height and 102 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the piece utilizes the fluidity of oil paint to render the subject's features and attire, characteristic of Rubens's approach to the genre during this period. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Charles the Bold was painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1618 and is presently housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Its dimensions are 118.5 cm in height and 102 cm in width.

The work was created as a portrait of the Burgundian duke and has remained in the museum's collection since its acquisition, forming part of the institution's holdings of Flemish portraiture.

Overview

Charles the Bold is a portrait painted in oil by Sir Peter Paul Rubens in 1618. It is a representation of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, created during the Flemish Baroque period.