Kejser Rudolf II 1520 - 1583

Martino Rota made this engraving of Rudolf II in 1592. It shows us how rulers in the late 16th century wanted to be seen. Here, Rudolf is dressed in ornate armour, a visual signifier of power and authority. But the laurel wreath suggests a lot more. It hints at Rudolf's aspirations as a second Caesar, and alludes to the Roman empire to legitimize his rule. The eagle in the upper left corner is another symbol of imperial power. Rudolf was Holy Roman Emperor at a time of great upheaval between Catholics and Protestants, so he was keen to assert his authority. What’s fascinating to me is that this image exists as a print. It was designed to be reproduced and distributed, a very modern way of controlling his image and projecting it across his empire. We can learn a lot about Rudolf and his era by studying images like this. Historians can use sources like letters, diaries, and official documents to understand the context in which they were made, deepening our understanding of the relationship between art, power, and society.