Christian, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Bishop of Halberstadt (1599-1626)
Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt (Delft 1567 – Delft 1641)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1620 - 1626
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
667 x 546 mm (26 1/4 x 21 1/2 in)
Order this imageCollection
Ashdown House, Oxfordshire
NT 493061
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Christian, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1599-1626) by Michel Miereveldt (1567-1641). A head-and-shoulders portrait to right in armour and ruff, an orange scarf with silver embroidery covering his left shoulder and chest, a green armband round his right arm. Indistinctly signed and inscribed "AEtatis...." He was the third son of Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Elizabeth of Denmark, sister of Anne of Denmark. He was the 'Administrator' of the secularized bishopric of Halsberstadt from 1616. Soldier and upholder of the cause of Frederick V of Bohemia, in the Thirty Years War, when he earned the sobriquet of 'der tolle Halberstädter' ['the Mad Halberstädter'] for his impetuosity (he lost two battles against Tilly), which was derived from his position as 'Administrator' of Halberstadt. He was a chivalrous champion of the Queen of Bohemia (he wore her glove, with the motto 'Pour Dieu et pour Elle', on his hat). He was a violent partisan of the Protestant cause in the Thirty Years War. He was wounded at Fleurus on 29 August 1622; a few days later his arm was amputated. His defeat at Stadtlohn on 6 August 1623 was a disaster for the King of Bohemia's cause. After a brief interlude seeking support from James I in England in 1624/5: he was awarded the Garter in 1624, he died of disease, a broken man, after a failed expedition into Hesse in 1626.
Provenance
No doubt one of the collection of portraits belonging to Elizabeth of Bohemia, and bequeathed by her to the Earl of Craven; thence by descent, until before the sale at Sotheby's, 27 November 1968, bought by the Ministry of Works for Ashdown House.Accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax and allocated to the National Trust for display at Ashdown House, 1968.
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Indistinctly signed and inscribed "AEtatis....". Recto: Brass Label: no. 316 (= Combe Abbey cat.: 1866 as: Christian Duke of Brunswick, M. Mirevel; later cat: 'Mierevelt, armour, embroidered crimson scarf').
Makers and roles
Michiel Jansz. van Miereveldt (Delft 1567 – Delft 1641), artist