Jacopo de' Barbari (attributed to)

Portrait of Heinrich V (1479-1552), Duke of Mecklenburg

898 detail opschrift en datering
898 achterzijde
898 ingelijst
898 voorzijde
898 voorzijde

Jacopo de' Barbari (attributed to)
Portrait of Heinrich V (1479-1552), Duke of Mecklenburg

On view in Room 7

This portrait of the German nobleman Henry of Mecklenburg was painted by the Venetian artist Jacopo de’ Barbari. Henry’s cloak has a pattern of battleaxes and tree trunks. There is also an axe hanging on his chain. Yet Henry’s nickname was ‘the Peaceful’. His hat is decorated with ostrich feathers, strings of pearls and cords with golden rings. Although it looks rather eccentric, Henry’s outfit was the height of fashion among the German nobility of the day.

Technical details
898 voorzijde

Jacopo de' Barbari (attributed to)
Portrait of Heinrich V (1479-1552), Duke of Mecklenburg

On view in Room 7

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Details

General information
Artist Jacopo de' Barbari (Venice c. 1460/1470 - before 1516 Mechelen) (attributed to)
Title Portrait of Heinrich V (1479-1552), Duke of Mecklenburg
Object name painting
Inventory number 898
On view in Room 7
Material and technical details
Technique oil
Material panel
Dimensions 59.3 x 37.5 cm
Inscriptions
Inscription and dated upper right: HENRICV REFERO DVCE MEGAPOLESE, / MAGNI FILIVM ANNOS NATV, / OCTO ET VIGITI / M.D.VII, / ANATALICRISTIAO / CALENDIS, / MAIIS

Provenance

(?) Heidelberg Castle, 1685; Lord Cromwell, Misterton Hall, Lutterworth, Leicestershire; M.C. Mège, Paris, 1909; B. Houthakker Gallery, Amsterdam, 1929; J.C.H. Heldring, Oosterbeek, 1929-1940; B. Houthakker Gallery, Amsterdam, after 10 May 1940; F.W.H. Hollstein Gallery, Amsterdam; Jacques Goudstikker/Alois Miedl Gallery, 16 October 1940; Almas Gallery, Munich; H. Hoffmann, Munich, 1940; Reichskanzlei, Berlin, 1940; Adolf Hitler, Führermuseum, Linz; Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit (inv. no. NK 2547); on loan to the Mauritshuis, 1951-1960; transferred, 1960

Second World War

This painting is part of the Netherlands Art Property Collection (‘NK collection’): objects that were stolen, seized or purchased during the Nazi regime. After the Second World War they were placed under the administration of the Dutch State. In recent decades, applications for restitution are taken into consideration again and some objects have been returned to the heirs of their rightful owners.

For more information: visit our page on provenance research