Plate 7: Triumphal Procession after Victory over Turks, from the Triumphs of Charles V

Art Historical Context

This striking print, created in 1614 by Antonio Tempesta and Cornelis Boel, forms part of the series *Triumphs of Charles V*. Plate 7 captures a grand triumphal procession celebrating the Holy Roman Emperor’s victory over the Ottoman Turks. Men on horseback and ornate chariots fill the scene, evoking the pageantry of ancient Roman triumphs reimagined for the seventeenth century. Etching and engraving allowed Tempesta and Boel to render intricate details of armor, drapery, and movement with remarkable precision. As a reproductive medium, such prints helped spread images of imperial power across Europe, turning military events into lasting symbols of authority and cultural prestige. The work’s dynamic composition and classical references reflect the Baroque taste for spectacle and heroic narrative. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum through the Rogers Fund in 1962, this sheet offers viewers a vivid glimpse into how rulers used art to commemorate conquest and shape historical memory.