# Equestrian Portrait of the Emperor Maximilian

**Hans Burgkmair** (German, 1473–1531)  
1508  
woodcut, in black and white on paper washed blue  
Sheet: 32.3 x 22.7 cm (12 11/16 x 8 15/16 in.)

Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1950.72. [The museum's record](https://clevelandart.org/art/1950.72).

## About this work

Presented in full profile, the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (reigned 1486–1519) and his mount emulate a classical equestrian portrait statue. The Latin abbreviations inscribed at the top of the page describe him as “August Emperor Caesar Maximilian,” a title conceptually equating him with the leaders of the ancient Roman Empire. The two-headed eagle on the banner is the emblem of his dynastic family, the Hapsburgs. This exceptionally rare chiaroscuro woodcut— printed with black and white inks on paper prepared with tinted wash—represents one of the earliest experiments with this technique. Of the two surviving impressions printed on hand-colored paper, this is the only one that is blue.

_Text from the Cleveland Museum of Art._

Hans Burgkmair made this in 1508, aged 35. It is now at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

### How it was made

- **Woodcut.** A relief print. The block is cut away around the lines, so the lines stand up to take the ink, and the sheet is pressed onto them.

### [Hans Burgkmair](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/hans-burgkmair)

German, 1473–1531

## Facts

- Type: Print
- Culture: Germany
- The artist was 35
- Real size: about 13 × 9 in (32 × 23 cm). The 11 × 14 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 16th century
- Movement: [Renaissance](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/renaissance)
- Colour: black
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/590.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/590/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/equestrian-portrait-of-the-emperor-maximilian-cma-128048).