Artwork

Margarete von Parma (1522-1586), Brustbild der etwa Vierzigjährgen

Margarete von Parma (1522-1586), Brustbild der etwa Vierzigjährgen is a color painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1562 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. This portrait depicts a woman believed to be in her forties, identified as Margarete von Parma.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The inscription situates her at about forty years of age, underscoring her maturity and experience during a pivotal period in the Netherlands.

The portrait depicts Margaret of Parma (1522–1586), an influential political figure of the Habsburg Netherlands. Painted circa 1562, the work follows Anthonis Mor’s courtly style, emphasizing her status through dignified, frontal presentation. The three-quarter bust format and restrained attire reflect Netherlandish court portrait conventions of the mid-sixteenth century.

The inscription situates her at about forty years of age, underscoring her maturity and experience during a pivotal period in the Netherlands. As the natural daughter of Emperor Charles V and ruler of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567, her portrait embodies the intersection of dynastic power and political authority.

Technique & Style

Created in 1562, this portrait of Margaret of Parma is executed in color on a canvas support. The work functions as a bust-length depiction, capturing the subject at approximately forty years of age. Stylistically, the piece is identified as a work produced after Anthonis Mor van Dashorst, reflecting the formal approach associated with his portraiture.

The painting measures 53 cm in height and 41.5 cm in width, adhering to the dimensions recorded for the panel held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum collection.

History & Provenance

The painting was created in 1562 as a portrait of Margaret of Parma, depicting her at around forty years of age. It is classified as a work made after Anthonis Mor van Dashorst, indicating it was produced after an original composition by that artist rather than directly by his hand. The work is executed in color on canvas and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display.

Beyond its inception date and current institutional ownership, the sources do not provide further details on an earlier ownership chain, a specific commissioner, or the circumstances of its creation.

The portrait of Margarete von Parma (1522-1586), Brustbild der etwa Vierzigjährigen, is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Its inventory number is KHM 1268. The work has been included in exhibitions at the Kunsthistorisches Museum focusing on portraiture from the 16th century.

Overview

This portrait depicts a woman believed to be in her forties, identified as Margarete von Parma. Rendered in oil on panel or canvas, the composition employs a restrained palette dominated by dark tones. The sitter’s features emerge from an unadorned background, directing attention to her expression and attire. Subtle gradations of light and shadow lend volume to the figure, a technique characteristic of sixteenth-century portraiture.

Context

Created during a period of religious and political upheaval in the Low Countries, the portrait reflects the intersection of personal identity and statecraft. Margarete’s governance coincided with the early stages of the Dutch Revolt, a conflict that tested Habsburg authority. Portraits of this era often served as diplomatic tools, reinforcing alliances or projecting stability. The painting’s austerity mirrors the restrained elegance favored in European courts of the time.