Maria Jacobaea of Baden, Duchess consort of Bavaria,

1526

Material / Technology / Carrier

Lindenholz (Tilia sp.)

Dimensions of the object

69 x 45 cm

Displayed

AP EG Saal XII

Department

Early German Painting

Genre

Painting

Inventory number

Acquisition

Aus der Herzoglichen Kunstkammer München

Stock

Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek München

Citation

Hans Wertinger, Maria Jacobaea von Baden, Herzogin von Bayern, 1526, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek München, URL: https://www.sammlung.pinakothek.de/en/artwork/6kLakP048V (Last updated on 04.06.2025)

These pendant portraits (see inv. no. 17) are full of allusions to the marriage alliance concluded in 1522: the links in the duke’s chain are formed by the letter I (for Jacobaea) held by two hands; his collar and choker show the W (for Wilhelm) with an I across it. Meanwhile, the lowest of Jacobaea’s three necklaces shows the W held by two hands. The beadwork lettering on her bodice reads “A BON FINE” (to good end). Duke Wilhelm went on to found the Munich painting collection: in 1528 he commissioned a cycle of large-format paintings depicting events in world history, including Albrecht Altdorfer’s ‘Battle of Alexander’.