Plate 48: Men bearing arms and heraldic flags marching in the funeral procession of Archduke Albert of Austria; from 'Pompa Funebris ... Alberti Pii'

Art Historical Context

This striking hand-colored etching captures a solemn moment from the elaborate funeral procession of Archduke Albert of Austria, who ruled the Spanish Netherlands until his death in 162. Created in 1623 as Plate 48 in the commemorative volume *Pompa Funebris ... Alberti Pii*, the print records the grandeur of Habsburg court rituals through a procession of men carrying weapons, heraldic flags, and insignia. Such publications served both to honor the deceased ruler and to preserve the spectacle for posterity, blending mourning with political display. Designed by Jacques Francquart and etched by Cornelis Galle I, the work exemplifies early seventeenth-century printmaking techniques. The addition of hand coloring brings vivid life to the flags and armor, transforming a functional record into an engaging visual narrative. As part of the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of fête prints, it offers viewers a window into Baroque-era ceremonies that celebrated power, lineage, and the continuity of empire. Today, this plate reminds us how art and ritual intertwined to shape public memory, inviting modern audiences to imagine the pageantry that once filled the streets of Brussels.

About the Artist

Jacques Francquart|Cornelis Galle I (French|French) · 1577 |1577 –1651 |1651

French, Brussels 1577–1651 Brussels|French, Brussels 1577–1651 Brussels