Holbein, Hans the Younger (c.1497-1543) Portrait of a young merchant 1541 Oil on oak, 46.5 × 34.8 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna Holbein created a new style of portraiture that is characterized by monumentality paired with extreme painterly precision. The young businessman…
Holbein, Hans the Younger (c.1497-1543) Jane Seymour c.1536–1537 Oil on oak, 65.5 × 47 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna Holbein became court painter to Henry VIII of England in 1536. Among the first of his paintings in the service of the King was…
Rembrandt (1606-1669) Large Self-Portrait 1652 Oil on canvas, 112 × 81.5 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna The self-portrait is of particular importance in Rembrandt‘s work. In total, the artist created over sixty painted self-portraits, which document not only his personal circumstances but…
Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640) Hélène Fourment (“The Furry”) c.1636–1638 Oil on oak, 178.7 × 86.2 × 2.5 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna The posture of Rubens‘ second wife Helena Fourment (1614-1674, married in 1630) is reminiscent of the type of the ancient…
Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640) Self-portrait c.1638 Oil on canvas, 110 × 85.5 × 2.4 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna Inscription: P.P. RUBINS (!) added later on the left of the column Despite his great successes, Rubens was always ambivalent about court life.…
Guercino (1591-1666) Ritorno del figliol prodigo (Homecoming of the Prodigal Son) 1619 Oil on canvas, 107 × 143.5 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna Compare: Guercino (1591-1666) Il ritorno del figliol prodigo 1654–1655 Timken Museum of Art, San Diego
Tiziano (c.1488-1576) Bravo (The Bravo) c.1515–1520 Oil on canvas, 77 × 66.5 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna Titian intensifies the close-up half-figure action picture developed by his teacher Giorgione into concentrated drama. The three-quarter portrait of the vine-leafed protagonist contrasts with the…
Tiziano (c.1488-1576) Ninfa e pastore (Nymph and shepherd) c.1570–1575 Oil on canvas, 149.6 × 187 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna The theme on which the picture is based has not yet been satisfactorily clarified, but Titian raised it to the mythical level…
Raffaello (1483-1520) Madonna del Prato (Madonna of the meadow) 1505–1506 Oil on poplar, 113 × 88.3 × 3.5 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna Inscription on the hem of Mary’s dress with the year M.d.V. (perhaps also M.D.V.I. to be read) The group,…
Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640) The Honeysuckle Bower c.1609–1610 Oil on canvas, transferred to wood, 178 x 136.5 cm Alte Pinakothek, Munich Rubens returned to Antwerp in 1608 after an eight-year stay in Italy. The following year he married Isabella Brant. This…