Overgave van de hertog van Saksen op het slagveld van Mühlberg

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso midden, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

Behold *Overgave van de hertog vanen op het slagveld Mühlberg* (Surrender of the Duke of Saxony the Battlefield of Mühlberg), a finely detailed engraving by Dutch artist Dirck Volckertsz. Coornhert (c. 1522–1590). Measuring just 156 mm high by 225 mm wide, this intimate print captures a pivotal moment from 1547, when Holy Roman Emperor Charles V triumphed over Protestant forces in the Schmalkaldic. Coornhert, a master engraver and humanist, excelled in translating dramatic historical scenes into precise, reproducible images, making events like this accessible to a wide audience. The artwork depicts the dramatic surrender of John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, to Charles V's Catholic Habsburg army at Mühlberg—an event that symbolized imperial dominance and the suppression of early Reformation challenges. Engravings like this served as powerful visual propaganda, circulating narratives of victory across Europe during the turbulent Reformation era. Coornhert's technique, with its intricate line work, highlights the tension and hierarchy of the scene, from the defeated duke's humbled posture to the emperor's commanding presence. This piece bears a collector's mark (Lugt 2228) stamped verso, linking it to esteemed historical collections. As a snapshot of 16th-century conflict and artistry, it invites us to reflect on how prints shaped public memory and political identity.