Who painted Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger?

Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger was painted by Unknown in 1566.

Where can I see Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger?

Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger?

Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger

Unknown , 1566

Kaiser Maximilian II. (1527-1576) als etwa Vierzigjähriger is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Unknown. It dates from 1566 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The oil portrait depicts Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, at roughly forty years of age.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

This portrait depicts Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, presented at approximately forty years of age and dated to 1566.

This portrait depicts Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, presented at approximately forty years of age and dated to 1566. As a workshop production attributed to Nicolas Neufchatel, the painting belongs to the genre of formal state portraiture, a category used to project the dignity and authority of Habsburg rulers. The work is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

The composition centers on the emperor as its sole main subject, rendered in oil on canvas. By isolating Maximilian II within a portrait format and producing it in the year he turned thirty-nine, the workshop contributed to the visual tradition of commemorating imperial maturity and rule, reinforcing the sitter's status as reigning Holy Roman Emperor.

Technique & Style

The portrait of Maximilian II painted in 1566 is executed in oil on canvas, a technique and support consistent with contemporary court portraiture. The work measures 81 by 65 units, reflecting the standard dimensions recorded for the piece in the museum's documentation. Its formal style conveys the sitter's authority through precise rendering of facial features and regal attire, while the handling of light and coloration adheres to the naturalistic approach characteristic of the workshop of Nicolas Neufchatel.

History & Provenance

The portrait of Emperor Maximilian II as a man of about forty was produced in 1566 in oil on canvas, attributed to the workshop of Nicolas Neufchatel. The work depicts Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display.

No further details about the original commission, the early ownership chain, or intermediate provenance prior to the Kunsthistorisches Museum's acquisition are documented in the available sources.

Overview

The oil portrait depicts Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, at roughly forty years of age. He is seated against a deep green backdrop, his figure rendered with a strong contrast of light and shadow that gives the face a sculptural presence.

Context

The portrait belongs to a tradition of imperial portraiture that emphasized visual authority through sumptuous dress and controlled lighting. It aligns with contemporary works by artists such as Titian and Antonis Mor, who also portrayed sovereigns with a blend of realism and symbolic regalia.