Wirkteppich, Pfalzgräfin Susanna (aus der Serie der Neuburger Bildnisteppiche)

Historischer Verein Neuburg an der Donau

Description

Count Palatine Ottheinrich (1502-1559) commissioned this sumptuous tapestry in Brussels just four years after his marriage to Susanna of Bavaria (1502-1543). The life-size portrait of his wife shows her surrounded by an idyllic landscape, in a composition very similar to that of the count himself (T 0175), which was designed to form a pair with this tapestry. However, the pose and bearing of husband and wife are very different. On the one hand, we have the demure, obedient and virtuous wife, and on the other the dynamic prince who seems to exude vitality. Susanna, the youngest daughter of Duke Albrecht IV of Bavaria (1447-1508), was betrothed to Margrave Kasimir of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1481-1527) at the age of just two and married him at 16. They had five children. Susanna was widowed at 25. Count Palatine Ottheinrich started courting his cousin soon afterwards and the two were married on 18 October 1529. The marriage is said to have been a loving one, but the couple had no children. Susanna died shortly after her 41st birthday and was interred in the burial vault at Munich's Frauenkirche church as her grieving spouse looked on.

It is thanks to the wealthy Neuburg merchant Joseph Benedikt Graßegger (1776–1849), who bought the tapestry series at auction and left them to the Historischer Verein in his will, that these valuable works of art can now be admired in their original home, Schloss Neuburg (Neuburg Castle).

Author

Dr. Margit Vonhof-Habermayr, Eva Gerum M.A., Historischer Verein Neuburg an der Donau

Rights Statement Description

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0