Tag: light

Portrait of a young merchant (1541)

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…

Jane Seymour (c.1536-1537)

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…

Large Self-Portrait (1652)

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…

Hélène Fourment (c.1636-1638)

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…

Self-portrait (c.1638)

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.…

Vista di Vienna dal Belvedere (1758-1761)

Bellotto, Bernardo (1721-1780) Vista di Vienna dal Belvedere (Vienna Viewed from the Belvedere Palace) 1758–1761 Oil on canvas, 135 × 213 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna This view of Vienna from the Upper Belvedere Palace, the summer palace of Prince Eugene of…

La Dogana a Venezia (c.1724-1730)

Canaletto (1697-1768) La Dogana a Venezia (The Dogana in Venice) c.1724–1730 Oil on canvas, 46 × 63.4 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna Across the forecourt of the Dogana (customs office) at the mouth of the Grand Canal, the view goes to the…

Ritorno del figliol prodigo (1619)

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    

Bravo (c.1515-1520)

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…