Karel V, Duits keizer

About this artwork

Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

Art Historical Context

Behold this exquisite cast medal portraying *Karel V, Duitsizer*—Charles V, the formidable Holy Roman Emperor—crafted in 1541 by the Monogrammist WS a skilled medailleur (medal maker). Measuring just 5.1 cm in diameter, this bronze-like piece captures the emperor's stern profile, a hallmark of Renaissance portraiture that humanized powerful rulers while celebrating their authority Donated to the collection by.M. van Gelderijhoff, it exemplifies the era's fascination with numismatic, where small-scale works as portable tokens of prestige. Dated to 1541, amid Charles V's expansive reign a vast ...