Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Portrait of Francis I, King of France
(Renaissance Europe )
By the early 16th century rulers began to recognize the political value of distributing portraits of themselves to followers as a way of reminding them of, and rewarding them for, their allegiance. In this, Francis I, King of France from 1515 to 1547, was very adept. Here, he presents himself as fashionably elegant, pious (the religious hat badge), yet physically powerful. One famous portrait of the king was made around 1525 by the Netherlander Joos van Cleve. Based on this painting, now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the artist's workshop produced at least 20 copies, including this one, to be given by the king as gifts.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Don Marcello Massarenti Collection, Rome, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1902, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Examination | examined for condition | |
| 1/7/1937 | Treatment | x-ray |
| 10/20/1976 | Examination | examined for catalogue |
| 10/20/1976 | Treatment | coated; varnish removed or reduced |
| 6/28/1988 | Examination | examined for condition |
Geographies
Belgium, Antwerp (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 16 9/16 x W: 12 5/8 in. (42.1 x 32.1 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters with the Massarenti Collection, 1902
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
37.412