Emperor Matthias

Aegidius Sadeler II Netherlandish

Not on view

During his career as imperial engraver, Sadeler portrayed three emperors. In this richly decorated composition, he has taken the extravagant mannerist, allegorical ornamentation seen in his earlier portrait of Rudolf II (exhibited nearby) to a new extreme. In the upper section, the Three Graces tilt cornucopias to shower the emperor with flowers and gold. To the left of the emperor Mercury tames Pegasus, and on the right Minerva slays the dragon of heresy. Matthias’s head has been depicted naturalistically but he is presented on a pedestal like the sculptural bust of a Roman emperor. Sadeler drew Emperor Matthias’s portrait during a trip to Linz, which he made to reclaim overdue salary.

Emperor Matthias, Aegidius Sadeler II (Netherlandish, Antwerp 1568–1629 Prague), Engraving

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