Iconography and Composition of the Portraits of Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg: the Meaning and Evolution

The article reveals some iconography and composition features, caused by their purpose, of the portraits of Emperor Maximilian I. The official portraits emphasize the idea of legitimacy of Maximilian. Some of them underline the right of Maximilian I to govern in Burgundy. The engraved portraits and portraits on coins, which could be seen by a lot of people, deal with the idea of crusade and form the image of valorous knight. The portraits painted for private goals strive to commemorate the person himself first of all. The early works demonstrate a rich, powerful, strong and self-confident figure. Among the typical characteristics of the later portraits, there are the increased distance between the picture and spectator, and the portrait’s special sacral sense.

Maximilian I, portrait, official art, coins, A. Dürer, H. Burgkmair, B. Strigel, A. de Predis

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