Artwork
Katharina, Tochter Karls III. von Lothringen (1573-1648)

Katharina, Tochter Karls III. von Lothringen (1573-1648) is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek. The oil painting portrays a young girl, identified as Katharina, daughter of Charles III of Lorraine (1573‑1648).
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek and is catalogued as a portrait in oil on canvas, dated 1578.
The painting is a portrait depicting Catherine of Lorraine, the daughter of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine, who lived from 1573 to 1648. As a portrait of a member of the House of Lorraine, the work serves as a personal likeness rather than a narrative or allegorical composition, and the sources do not describe any symbolic attributes, emblems, or iconographic devices attached to her figure. The identification of the sitter as Catherine of Lorraine is the central element of meaning, anchoring the image in the dynastic identity of the late sixteenth-century Lorraine court.
The work is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek and is catalogued as a portrait in oil on canvas, dated 1578. Its tall, narrow format (181.7 × 85.2 cm) is consistent with a full-length standing portrait of noble rank, though the sources provide no further detail on costume, pose, or setting that would carry additional symbolic content.
Technique & Style
The portrait was executed in oil on canvas in 1578. The work measures 181.7 cm in height and 85.2 cm in width, reflecting the formal dimensions recorded for the piece. Its composition presents Catherine of Lorraine in a dignified pose, rendered with the characteristic handling of oil paint that emphasizes smooth transitions and fine detail typical of late Renaissance portraiture.
The stylistic treatment aligns with the broader tradition of French portraiture of the period, combining naturalistic facial rendering with richly detailed drapery and a restrained palette.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Katharina, Tochter Karls III. von Lothringen (1573–1648) was produced in 1578, executed in oil paint on canvas. According to the cataloguing record, the work was created by an artist identified only by an internal identifier, with the painting's date of inception recorded as 1 January 1578.
The painting is now part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is held at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it is documented as a portrait of Catherine of Lorraine. No information is provided regarding the original commissioner, the circumstances of the original commission, or the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
The portrait of Katharina, daughter of Charles III of Lorraine, is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work is cataloged within this institution's collection, which manages the inventory of the museum. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records.
The painting was created in 1578 and depicts Catherine of Lorraine. There is no documented exhibition history for this specific work in the provided sources.
Overview
The oil painting portrays a young girl, identified as Katharina, daughter of Charles III of Lorraine (1573‑1648). She is shown in a richly decorated gown with gold‑and‑white swirls, standing before a dark backdrop. Her right hand rests on a small dog, and she wears an up‑do hairstyle, a necklace, and a crown, emphasizing her noble status.


















