Emperor Matthias

Aegidius Sadeler II

1614 · Engraving · Drawings and Prints

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.

Artist

Aegidius Sadeler II

Date

1614

Medium

Engraving

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949