Charles V (Karl V), Emperor, from Herberstains Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii

Art Historical Context

This etching by Augustin Hirschvogel captures Emperor Charles V, one of the most powerful rulers of the sixteenth century, whose vast domains stretched across Europe and the Americas. Created in 1546 as part of the visual material associated with Sigismund von Herberstein’s influential *Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii*, a landmark account of Muscovy, the print reflects the era’s growing interest in both imperial authority and expanding geographic knowledge. Hirschvogel, active in Nuremberg and Vienna, was among the early masters of etching, a technique that allowed for fluid lines and intricate detail on copper plates. The portrait emphasizes Charles V’s armored presence, underscoring his role as a military leader during a period of religious conflict and territorial ambition. At just over seven inches tall, the intimate scale suits the book’s printed format while still conveying regal dignity. Etching’s relatively new flexibility in the 1540s enabled artists like Hirschvogel to combine portraiture with decorative elements, helping disseminate images of rulers across Europe through affordable prints. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, this work offers visitors a window into Renaissance printmaking’s power to shape political imagery and historical memory.

About the Artist

Augustin Hirschvogel · 1503–1553

Augustin Hirschvogel (1503–1553) was born in Nuremberg into a prominent family of stained-glass painters who dominated the city's glass workshops during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The son of Veit Hirschvogel the Elder (1461–1525), Nuremberg's official glazier who executed designs after Albrecht Dürer and Hans von Kulmbach, Augustin trained as a glass painter in his father's workshop. ...