Artwork
Infantin Katharina Michaela von Spanien (Werkstatt)

Infantin Katharina Michaela von Spanien (Werkstatt) is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1559 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek. This portrait depicts a woman seated in a formal pose, dressed in attire characteristic of the late 16th or early 17th century.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is a portrait depicting Catalina Micaela of Spain, identified as the main subject of the painting. Created in 1559, the piece serves as a formal representation of the Spanish Infanta, capturing her likeness within the genre of portraiture. As a commissioned image of royalty, the painting functions primarily to document and legitimize the status of the sitter during her childhood.
Technique & Style
Its stylistic qualities align with the formal, courtly portraiture of the Spanish Habsburg era, characterized by precise detail and subdued tonal modeling.
The work is executed in oil on wood panel, a technique typical of 16th-century Spanish portraiture. The support is a wooden panel measuring 73.1 cm in height and 60.5 cm in width, consistent with contemporary practice for formal portrait paintings. The handling reflects the careful preservation typical of museum-held works in the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where the painting is housed in the Alte Pinakothek.
Its stylistic qualities align with the formal, courtly portraiture of the Spanish Habsburg era, characterized by precise detail and subdued tonal modeling.
History & Provenance
The portrait of the Infantin Katharina Michaela von Spanien originates from the workshop of Alonso Sánchez Coello and was created in 1559. It depicts Catalina Micaela of Spain as its main subject and is classified as a portrait painting. The work is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains part of the collection. The painting measures 73.1 cm in height by 60.5 cm in width.
The painting Infantin Katharina Michaela von Spanien is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. While the work is attributed to the workshop of Alonso Sánchez Coello and dated to 1559, the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records. The sources confirm the location and collection but do not list any exhibition history for this portrait of Catalina Micaela of Spain.
Legacy
The portrait of Infantin Katharina Michaela von Spanien, attributed to Alonso Sánchez Coello's workshop, was acquired by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and displayed at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its presence in a major public collection ensured continued scholarly attention and solidified the workshop's reputation for high-quality court portraiture in 16th-century Spain. The work's inclusion in the Alte Pinakothek's holdings influenced later assessments of Spanish Renaissance art, particularly in emphasizing the role of workshops in disseminating royal imagery across European collections.
The painting's legacy is further reflected in its frequent citation in art-historical studies of Habsburg court culture, underscoring its significance beyond its immediate artistic context.
Overview
This portrait depicts a woman seated in a formal pose, dressed in attire characteristic of the late 16th or early 17th century. The painting is attributed to a workshop, suggesting it was produced by a team of artists under the guidance of a lead painter.


















