Flemish School, 16th Century

Emperor Charles V Inspecting the Building of Escorial, Close to Madrid

      . AN UTTERLY UNIQUE DRAWING OF HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR CHARLES V AT ESCORIAL Inscription: 'Brixiae' et 'Carolus Puteus Hoc Opus Calamo Fecit. / Carolus innumeris redimitus tempora lauris, /Bellorum vitat fremitus atque otia querit. / Sacros monasterii: Sic bello strennuus HEROS: Deseruit terras, tradens sua regna PHILIPPO' et numerate '8' Pen and brown ink, on parchment Parchment size: approx. 7 1/10" x 8 9/10" Framed size: approx. 16 3/5" x 18 1/10" This is an extraordinary and utterly unique drawing of Emperor Charles V (1519-1558), produced by an unknown member of the Flemish School during the sixteenth century. This drawing is based on a composition painted by Antonio Tempesta (1555-1563) at Palazzo Mattei in Rome. It likely served as the basis of the eighth and final engraving included in Mattaus Merian's (1593-1650), father of legendary naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), 1615 work dedicated to the life of Charles V. The artist to whom the inscription refers, "Carolus Puteus, " is unknown today, but scholars have suggested that he is of the family of the gifted painter and miniaturist Thomas van den Putte (1532-1608). The scene represented in the drawing, however, is not a historical event, since the construction of Escorial did not commence until five years after Charles V's death. The drawing depicts Charles V overseeing the building of the famed Spanish monastery and palace. Decked out in full Classical garb, his chiseled musculature exposed, Charles V gives feedback to an architect holding a blueprint of Escorial's legendary basilica. Surrounding the emperor are a band of similarly heroic looking soldiers and a number of builders hard at work. A lavish border encloses the scene along with the artist's inscription as well. Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, was the son of Philip I and Joana of Castile, and the grandson of Ferdinand II of Aragón, Isabella of Castile, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, and Mary of Burgundy. Upon his father's death in 1506,...