Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth on his Deathbed
1656
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1656
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth on his Deathbed is a 1656 ink by Peter Troschel, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a man lying in bed, dressed in old-fashioned robes, with a crown and scepter beside him. Above him float two winged children holding a shield with a coat of arms. The scene looks dramatic, with dark clouds and a skull peeking from the bedding. A long scroll of text runs down the center, framed by ornate designs. The man appears to be dying, surrounded by symbols of power and mortality. The text is likely a tribute or inscription, common in deathbed scenes from this era. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists like this carved images into metal plates.
