Label Type
Exhibition labelLabel
Pieter van Sompel (ca. 1600-after 1643), Dutch
after Pieter Claesz Soutman (ca. 1580-1657), Dutch
Maximillian II, ca. 1650
Ink on paper engraving
2021.05.8
This is of Mary of Burgundy’s great-grandson Maximillian II (1527-1576) who became Holy Roman Emperor in 1564. Like the portrait of Mary, this engraving was created for a mid-17th century Dutch book of portraits of historic rulers titled “Effigies imperatorum domus Austriacae” – or “Pictures of the Royal Austrian Family.” This is plate nine of thirteen. At this time two branches of the Hapsburg family had developed, one in Spain and one in Austria. The Spanish branch ruled the Netherlands and Low Countries since the late 15th century. While there were many causes for conflict between Spain and the Netherlands, religious differences were a major flash point. The Hapsburgs were Cathole while the Dutch were predominately Protestant.