Maximilianus II
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 14 × 10.2 cm (5 1/2 × 4 in.) cut within platemark
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
2012.122.8
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate engraving *Maximilianus II* by Crispijn van de Passe I, created in 1604 and now housed in the National Gallery of Art. This small-scale portrait (14 × 10.2 cm) captures Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II (r. 1564–1576), a pivotal figure during the Renaissance whose reign bridged religious tensions in Europe. Van de Passe, a leading Dutch engraver from a renowned family of printmakers, produced this posthumous likeness nearly three decades after the emperor's death, reflecting the enduring fascination with Habsburg rulers. Crafted as an engraving on laid paper—a technique wh...