Equestrian Portrait of Charles V
Encyclopedia
Equestrian Portrait of Charles V (also Emperor Charles V on Horseback and Charles V at Mühlberg) is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Italian Renaissance
artist Titian
. Created between April and September 1548 while Titian was at the imperial court of Augsburg
, it is a tribute to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
, following Charles' victory in the April 1547 Battle of Mühlberg
. Titian knew Charles V personally, and had painted a number of portraits of him by this time. The portrait was commissioned by Mary of Austria, Queen of Hungary, and entered the Museo del Prado
's collection in 1827.
Drawing on sources such as Roman military art (the statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback), Renaissance equestrian imagery such as the engravings of Hans Burgkmair
, and possibly Dürer's Knight, Death and the Devil
, Titian portrays Charles V heroically but in a calm dawn setting in which there are no signs of battle. A feeling of steadiness and control is created by the darkly treed background behind the rider, the evenly clouded sky, and Charles' detached gaze into the distance. Titian departs from the traditional rendering of rider on horse, in which one of the horse's front legs is raised (as seen in the gallery of Roman and Renaissance works below). Instead, the horse rears slightly, or may be striking off into a canter, with only its hind legs touching the ground, while Charles still holds the reins lightly, upright but at ease, implying his advanced horsemanship.
The canvas contains surprisingly few iconographic elements. Pietro Aretino
, a contemporary writer whom Titian painted, suggested that Titian should incorporate conventional references to religion and fame. Charles' portrait instead gains its impact by its directness and sense of contained power: the horse's strength seems just in check, and Charles' brilliantly shining armour and the painting's deep reds are reminders of battle and heroism. Titian recorded all of the foreground elements—the horse, its caparison
, and the rider's armour—from those used in the actual battle.
Symbolism and iconography
are not absent from the painting, however. The red worn by Charles and his horse represents the Catholic faith in the wars of the 16th century. His lance alludes to Saint George
, the exemplar of the "traditional image of a military knight-saint".
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
artist Titian
Titian
Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488/1490 – 27 August 1576 better known as Titian was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near...
. Created between April and September 1548 while Titian was at the imperial court of Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, it is a tribute to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, following Charles' victory in the April 1547 Battle of Mühlberg
Battle of Mühlberg
The Battle of Mühlberg was a large battle at Mühlberg in the Electorate of Saxony during the Protestant Reformation at which the Catholic princes of the Holy Roman Empire led by the Emperor Charles I of Spain and V of the Holy Roman Empire decisively defeated the Lutheran Schmalkaldic League of...
. Titian knew Charles V personally, and had painted a number of portraits of him by this time. The portrait was commissioned by Mary of Austria, Queen of Hungary, and entered the Museo del Prado
Museo del Prado
The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and unquestionably the best single collection of...
's collection in 1827.
Drawing on sources such as Roman military art (the statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback), Renaissance equestrian imagery such as the engravings of Hans Burgkmair
Hans Burgkmair
Hans Burgkmair the elder was a German painter and printmaker in woodcut.Burgkmair was born in Augsburg, the son of painter Thomas Burgkmair and his son, Hans the Younger, became one too. From 1488 he was a pupil of Martin Schongauer in Colmar, who died during his two years there, before Burgkmair...
, and possibly Dürer's Knight, Death and the Devil
Knight, Death and the Devil
Knight, Death and the Devil is a large 1513 engraving, one of the three "master prints" of the German artist Albrecht Dürer. The print portrays an armored Christian Knight riding through a narrow gorge flanked by a pig-snouted devil and the figure of death riding a pale horse. Death holds an...
, Titian portrays Charles V heroically but in a calm dawn setting in which there are no signs of battle. A feeling of steadiness and control is created by the darkly treed background behind the rider, the evenly clouded sky, and Charles' detached gaze into the distance. Titian departs from the traditional rendering of rider on horse, in which one of the horse's front legs is raised (as seen in the gallery of Roman and Renaissance works below). Instead, the horse rears slightly, or may be striking off into a canter, with only its hind legs touching the ground, while Charles still holds the reins lightly, upright but at ease, implying his advanced horsemanship.
The canvas contains surprisingly few iconographic elements. Pietro Aretino
Pietro Aretino
Pietro Aretino was an Italian author, playwright, poet and satirist who wielded immense influence on contemporary art and politics and invented modern literate pornography.- Life :...
, a contemporary writer whom Titian painted, suggested that Titian should incorporate conventional references to religion and fame. Charles' portrait instead gains its impact by its directness and sense of contained power: the horse's strength seems just in check, and Charles' brilliantly shining armour and the painting's deep reds are reminders of battle and heroism. Titian recorded all of the foreground elements—the horse, its caparison
Caparison
A caparison is a covering, or cloth, laid over a horse or other animal, especially a pack animal, or horse of state. In modern times, it is used mainly for decoration in parades and for historical reenactments. A similar term is horse-trapper....
, and the rider's armour—from those used in the actual battle.
Symbolism and iconography
Iconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek "image" and "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons in the...
are not absent from the painting, however. The red worn by Charles and his horse represents the Catholic faith in the wars of the 16th century. His lance alludes to Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
, the exemplar of the "traditional image of a military knight-saint".