Plate H: Election and Coronation of Emperor Maximilian II
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 7 3/8 × 11 3/8 in. (18.8 × 28.9 cm) Plate: 6 7/8 × 9 13/16 in. (17.5 × 25 cm)
Classification
Prints|Prints-Fete|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.570.351(7)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This 1612 etching, Plate H from a series documenting imperial ceremonies, captures the formal election and coronation of Holy Emperor Maximilian II. by the German artists Bringern and Willhelm Hoffmans, along with an anonymous 17th-century collaborator, the print uses fine line work to portray a bustling crowd gathered amid ornate architectural settings. The medium of etching allowed for precise rendering of both the grand structures and the animated figures, reflecting the era’s interest in recording state occasions for wider audiences. Historically, such prints served as visual records of the Holy Roman Empire’s electoral traditions, blending political ritual with festive spectacle. The classification as a “Prints-Fete” highlights its role in celebrating these events, while the architectural details underscore the ceremonial importance of the location. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, the work offers visitors a glimpse into early modern European pageantry and the technical artistry of printmaking.
About the Artist
Johann Bringern|Willhelm Hoffmans|Anonymous, German, 17th century (German|German|German) · 1600 |1512 |1512 –1700 |1712 |1712
|German, active Frankfurt|German, active Frankfurt