Maximilian and Henry VII of England, plate 11 from Historical Scenes from the Life of Emperor Maximilian I from the Triumphal Arch

Art Historical Context

This woodcut by Erhard Schön depicts Emperor Maximilian I in conversation with Henry VII of England, forming plate 11 in the "Historical Scenes from the Life of Emperor Maximilian I" series. Created between 1515 and 1517 and printed around 1520, it belongs to the monumental Triumphal Arch project—a vast composite woodcut honoring Maximilian’s reign, military campaigns, and diplomatic achievements. The scene underscores the strategic alliances that shaped early 16th-century Europe, linking the Habsburg court with Tudor England. Measuring just over eight inches tall, the print demonstrates the remarkable versatility of woodcut technique during the Renaissance. Artists carved intricate designs into wooden blocks, enabling multiple impressions that could circulate widely as both art and political messaging. Schön, working in the orbit of Nuremberg’s printmaking tradition, employed fine linear detail to convey the dignity of the two rulers and the ceremonial weight of their meeting. Now preserved in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings collection, the sheet offers viewers a tangible connection to Maximilian’s carefully crafted legacy and the innovative use of print as a vehicle for historical narrative.

About the Artist

Erhard Schön · 1491–1542

He was famed as a popular printmaker, with attributions including around 1200 illustrations for 116 books and about 200 separate woodcuts. Among the best works are the woodcuts that he and Hans Springinklee made for the "Hortulus animae", published in Nuremberg in 1515 by Johannes Koberger. It was one of the most popular pre-Reformation anthologies of prayers, published in at least 20 German and L...