Friedrich der Siegreiche 

Albrecht Altdorfer painted this portrait of Friedrich der Siegreiche, or Frederick the Victorious, using oil paints. While oil painting was becoming more common, the process remained painstaking. Pigments had to be carefully ground and mixed, and each layer of the painting applied with precision. Look closely at the details: the fur trim of his coat, the delicate gold threads woven into the fabric, and the subtle shading of his face. These are all signs of Altdorfer’s mastery. The way Frederick is depicted, clothed in expensive materials and holding what appears to be a legal document, speaks volumes about his social status and power. In contrast to the opulence of his attire, Altdorfer’s work reflects the social stratification of the time, where access to skilled labor and fine materials was a privilege of the elite. By recognizing the labor and materials involved, we gain a deeper understanding of the portrait as a product of its time, blurring the lines between art and social history.