Entering
Habsburg family tree

Habsburg, chosen by God
Chapter 1 Albrecht Dürer, Maximilian I
Chapter 2 Francisco Pradilla, "Juana the Madwoman"
Chapter 3: Vecellio Titian, Equestrian Statue of Emperor Charles V
Chapter 4: Titian Vecellio, Crown Prince Philip in Military Uniform
Chapter 5 El Greco, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz
Chapter 6: Diego Velázquez, "Las Meninas"
Chapter 7: Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Rudolf II in the Form of Vertumnus
Chapter 8: Adolf von Menzel, "Friedrich the Great's Flute Concert"
Chapter 9: Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, Marie Antoinette and Children
Chapter 10: Thomas Lawrence, The King of the Romans (Duke of Reichstadt)
Chapter 11 Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Empress Elisabeth
Chapter 12: The Execution of Maximilian, Édouard Manet

In conclusion
Key References
Image source
Chronology
Painters covered in this book

From Rudolf I in the 13th century to Franz Joseph in the 20th century
The Rise and Fall of the Habsburgs as Seen Through Famous Paintings


The Habsburgs were proud of their noble blue blood, of being chosen by God and special, and this was supported by their confidence that they had ruled over five religions and twelve peoples for centuries and held the throne of the Holy Roman Emperors as their sole sovereign.
The Habsburgs' rule extended to what is now Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, California, and Indonesia.
The Habsburgs were also the first monarchs to hold the most titles in European history, with Charles V holding a staggering 70 titles.
The origins of this very powerful clan are surprisingly not from Austria or Germany, but from a small noble family that emerged in a rural corner of northeastern Switzerland around the end of the 10th century.
And the foundation stone was laid by Rudolf I in the 13th century.
At that time, a great opportunity that could be called a turning point in the fate of Count Rudolf of Habsburg, who was still a poor rural nobleman, came: the throne of the Holy Roman Emperor.
This position was chosen by other princes with the intention of making him their puppet, but Rudolf I started a war five years after his coronation.
After winning this war, he took Bohemia into his hands and soon after made Austria his own territory, moving his base from the Swiss mountains to Austria.
After that, Rudolf I's primary goal was to expand and protect the Habsburg dynasty.


Later, at the end of the 15th century, Maximilian I, a hero from the Habsburg family, appeared.
He earned the title of 'the last knight of the Middle Ages', always fighting on the front lines, expanding the territory to Burgundy, Spain, and Hungary, and changing the country's name to 'Holy Roman Empire of the German People'. Rather than rebuilding the ancient Roman Empire, he focused on strengthening the Habsburg dynasty in the German-speaking world, and in fact, raised it to one of the most prestigious families in Europe.
Maximilian I also placed importance on marriage diplomacy, which led to his statement, “Leave war to others.”
It is said that the famous family motto was born: “You happy Austria, get married!”
This book introduces Albrecht Dürer's work, Maximilian I, against this historical background.


This oil portrait, commissioned by the Emperor himself, depicts Maximilian I, wearing a large black velvet hat and standing against a dark green background, with a pensive expression.
He wears a rather luxurious red coat lined with fur, and in his left hand he holds a pomegranate, which is considered a symbol of 'abundance' because its flesh is densely packed with seeds, but also symbolizes the solidarity of those who serve the monarch, as the countless seeds are enclosed in a sturdy shell.
It can be said to be a symbol befitting the Holy Roman Emperor who rules over many countries.
If you saw this painting without any prior knowledge, you might have just passed it by and thought it was just some European nobleman.
But if you look at the painting knowing the fierce life of Maximilian I, you will see his heavy-eyed appearance differently.
Author Kyoko Nakano introduces the history of the Habsburgs through famous paintings, from Rudolf I in the 13th century to Franz Joseph in the 20th century.
By learning the historical knowledge and hidden information in famous paintings introduced by the author and looking at the paintings, your understanding of history and the works will naturally deepen.

“I never knew history and art could be this fun!”
A storytelling masterpiece class that draws you in without you realizing it as you read.

Nakano Kyoko, who first gained recognition for her unique introductions to famous paintings, has captivated countless fans with her unique art appreciation method, her perspective encompassing all aspects of culture, and her eloquent storytelling.
The author's extensive background knowledge on history, culture, and art, including the historical facts behind the backgrounds of famous paintings, the personal history of the painters, and the stories intertwined with the characters in the paintings, has been well-received by general readers, and the "Scary Pictures" series in particular has been praised for opening a new chapter in the art book field with its attractive concept, and has also become a sensation in Korea.
Afterwards, Kyoko Nakano challenged herself with the field of fusion of art and history through the ‘Art Museum Where History Flows’ series.
The author explains why the Habsburg dynasty came to the forefront of attention, saying that the Habsburg dynasty was the backdrop for masterpieces such as Verdi's opera [Carlos], Stefan Zweig's biography [Marie Antoinette], and Sylvester Levay's musical [Elisabeth], and that it also had many fascinating figures that inspired geniuses such as Albrecht Dürer, Vecellio Titian, Diego Velázquez, and El Greco to take up their brushes in painting.
This is because their history sometimes evokes boundless romance, sometimes brings hair-raising horror, and even overlaps with modern-day European integration.

So why did the author challenge the fusion of art and history?
The reason is that many people find history and art difficult.
The titles and names of kings and nobles are often difficult to pronounce and even difficult to understand, especially in the case of Charles V.
It is conceivable that the etymology of Charles and Carlos would be the same, but many people say that they started to dislike Western history upon hearing that Charles V and Charles I were the same person.
Art is also often considered boring and difficult because we have only seen paintings through memorization based on rigid knowledge such as art history and painting styles.
In this book, Kyoko Nakano presents an easy way to learn history and art simultaneously.
The author introduces twelve famous paintings related to the figures representing the Habsburgs, along with numerous other famous paintings related to them, and vividly conveys the lives of the figures in the famous paintings and their impact on history through the historical background and anecdotes.
In particular, Nakano Kyoko's vivid descriptions have the power to immerse you in the story in an instant, as if you were watching a scene from a novel or a movie, making reading even more enjoyable.
In addition, the famous paintings introduced in this book are beneficial in that they allow one to encounter a variety of works, including not only familiar masters like Manet and Velazquez, but also Albrecht Dürer, the German national painter beloved by Europe, Francisco Pradilla, famous for his historical paintings, and Giuseppe Arcimboldo, the first surrealist painter.


Even if you've hesitated to approach history and art because you thought they might be difficult, following the author's clear and engaging narrative will naturally help you learn the flow of European history and eliminate any preconceived notions you may have had about art.