Allegory of the Meeting of Pope Paul II and Emperor Frederick III
c. 1470
Medium
woodcut, hand-colored in green, red lake, yellow, tan, and orange
Dimensions
image: 41.3 x 29.2 cm (16 1/4 x 11 1/2 in.) sheet: 38.4 x 28.8 cm (15 1/8 x 11 5/16 in.) overall (external frame dimensions): 59.7 x 44.5 cm (23 1/2 x 17 1/2 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.9128
Art Historical Context
This vibrant hand-colored woodcut, titledAllegory of the Meeting Pope Paul II and Emperor III*, captures a pivotal moment in 15th-century European history. Created around 1470 by an anonymous artist, it allegorically depicts the symbolic encounter between the pontiff (ruling 1464–1471) and the Holy Roman Emperorreigned 1452–1493), likely referencing their diplomatic meeting that underscored the delicate balance of papal and imperial power during the late Middle Ages. Such allegories were popular in German art, blending historical reverence with moral and political messaging to educate and insp...
About the Artist
German 15th Century
**German 15th Century** The designation "German 15th Century" encompasses a collective of anonymous artists active in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods in Germany, primarily known through their contributions to early printmaking and panel painting. These creators emerged during a transformative era when woodcuts and engravings began democratizing religious imagery, bridging the Goth...