print; book-illustration

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Object Type: print; book-illustration
Museum number: 1884,0112.47
Title: Object: Porticus Cæsero-Austriaca
Description: Plate 16: The Portico of the Emperors; across the portico are twelves statues of the Hapsburg emperors standing in arches flanking a large central portal surmounted by an obelisk and two twisted columns; across length of gallery is a continuous balustrade adorned with garlands and imperial ornaments; in the spandrels of central portal are winged Victories holding laurel wreaths; obelisk is crowned by sun and ornamented with two eagles, the imperial and Austrian flags, and the imperial coat-of-arms; framing the portal are fluted Ionic pilasters topped by twisted columns that bear imperial crowns and banners with the motto 'Plus Ultra'; atop the pediment to the far left of the gallery stands a winged Victory holding a laurel crown and pennant, accompanied by two griffons; opposite at the right is another Victory accompanied by two lions; separating the twelve emperors are twelve deities, six male and six female, in the form of terms attached to the pillasters of gallery; after Peter Paul Rubens; illustration for Gaspar Gevaerts' "Pompa Introitus" (Antwerp, 1641) Etching and engraving from two plates
Producer name: Print made by: Theodoor van Thulden; After: Peter Paul Rubens; Published by: Theodoor van Thulden
School/style
Production date: 1635-1641 (c.)
Production place: Published in: Antwerp (city)
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 843 millimetres (plate-mark); Height: 649 millimetres (sheet); Width: 539 millimetres; Width: 543 millimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: One of a series of forty-three plates illustrating Gaspar Gevaerts' "Pompa Introitus"; for additional comments see 1884,0112.31. The Imperial Austrian Portico combines the triumphal arch with a gallery of over life-size portrait scultpures that celebrate the victories of the Hapsburg emperors. Rubens designed the portico as a U-shape spanning more than 31 metres across, with the hollow obelisk rising 23 metres high as a series of coloured glass panels lit from the inside at night. Because the procession was to pass through the centre portal, both façacdes were decorated. Van Thulden executed a series of six detailed etchings of the portico statues of the emperors (see 1884,0112.48-1884,0112.53). Not all of these sectional views are in accord with the panoramic view here; for example he adds the figure of Hercules for visual effect (1884,0112.51). Van Thulden also executed an etching after Rubens' design for the ground plan of the portico, clearly marking its dimensions and layout (1884,0112.54).
Bibliographic references: Hollstein / Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts c.1450-1700 (113) (Thulden); Schneevoogt 1873 / Catalogue des estampes gravées d'après P.P.Rubens (225.27.16); Corpus Rubenianum XVI / The Decorations for the Pompa Introitus Ferdinandi (21)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: arch/gateway; temporary architecture; procession; allegory/personification; ruler; classical deity; monument
Associated names: Illustration to: Gaspar Gevaerts; Associated with: Gaspar Gevaerts (author of latin inscriptions); Associated with: Ferdinand, Cardinal Infante of Spain and Archduke of Austria; Representation of: Nike/Victoria/Victory; Representation of: Hera/Juno; Representation of: Hestia/Vesta; Representation of: Aphrodite/Venus; Representation of: Artemis/Diana; Representation of: Athena/Minerva; Representation of: Demeter/Ceres; Representation of: Apollo; Representation of: Hephaistos/Vulcan; Representation of: Hermes/Mercury; Representation of: Zeus/Jupiter; Representation of: Poseidon/Neptune; Representation of: Ares/Mars; Representation of: Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Rudolf I, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Albert I, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Albert II, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Frederick IV, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor; Representation of: Matthias I Corvinus, King of Hungary; Representation of: Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Associated places: Associated with: Antwerp (city)
Associated events: Associated Event: Entry of Cardinal Infante Ferdinand of Austria into Antwerp 1635 (17 April)
Associated titles
Acquisition name: Transferred from: British Library (1884); Donated by: Dorothea, Lady Banks
Previous owner
Acquisition date: 1818
Acquisition notes: For comments see 1884,0112.31.
Department: Prints and Drawings
Registration number: 1884,0112.47

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