Plate 3: Charles V Crowned Emperor entering Rome with the Pope, from the Triumphs of Charles V

Art Historical Context

This etching and engraving by Cornelis Boel and Antonio Tempesta captures a grand moment from the 1614 series *The Triumphs of Charles*. Plate 3 depicts the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V entering Rome alongside the Pope, surrounded by a procession of men on horseback, soldiers bearing weapons, and symbols of imperial authority. The scene evokes the pageantry of Renaissance processions, blending historical reverence with dramatic movement. Charles V’s coronation in 1530 marked a rare alignment of imperial and papal power, and this later print celebrates that alliance through a vivid display of horses, armor, and dignitaries. Created more than eighty years after the event, the work reflects how 17th-century audiences continued to look back on Charles V’s reign as a golden age of European unity. As an etching and engraving, the medium allowed fine detail and wide distribution, turning a single historical triumph into an accessible image for collectors across Europe. The Metropolitan Museum’s impression preserves the crisp lines and dynamic composition that made such prints both informative and visually compelling.