Stamboom van het Habsburgse Huis, blad drie 1533 - 1535

Robert Péril made this print of the family tree of the House of Habsburg using engraving. We see imagery designed to shore up the reputation of this powerful family. Heraldry, genealogy, and religious iconography combine in this image that stakes a claim to power. Likely made in the 16th or 17th century in the Netherlands or the Holy Roman Empire, its visual language aimed to assert a divinely ordained right to rule and the longevity of the dynasty. The image features a tree with family members appearing on the branches. Angels and coats of arms emphasize the noble lineage of the Habsburgs. Baptism is also represented, alluding to the importance of religion and the sanctity of the family. As an art historian, I would research the Habsburg family’s political strategies, their use of visual propaganda, and the socio-political context in which the image was made. Images like this are key resources for historians in understanding the ways power has been asserted and maintained.