Filips, paltsgraaf en hertog van Beieren, met de rijksappel en Karel III, hertog van Savoye, met de keizerskroon, plaat CC - Nicolaas Hogenberg

A detailed sixteenth-century etching by Nicolaas Hogenberg depicting a ceremonial procession of European nobility, including the Duke of Bavaria and the Duke of Savoy.

This etching by Nicolaas Hogenberg forms part of a larger series documenting the ceremonial procession of Emperor Charles V. The work depicts Philip, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria, carrying the imperial orb, alongside Charles III, Duke of Savoy, who bears the imperial crown. The composition is organised as a linear frieze, a common format for sixteenth-century processional prints, allowing the viewer to observe the figures in sequence as they move across the page.

Hogenberg employs a precise, controlled line to define the figures, their elaborate costumes, and the heraldic elements positioned at the top of the frame. The inclusion of coats of arms and descriptive text in French provides historical context, identifying the noble figures and their roles within the imperial hierarchy. The figures are rendered with attention to the textures of their garments and the musculature of the horses, reflecting the technical capabilities of printmaking during the Northern Renaissance.

The print serves as a visual record of the political and social pageantry surrounding the Habsburg court. By capturing the specific regalia held by each duke, Hogenberg communicates the symbolic weight of the procession. The balance between the textual information and the visual narrative creates a structured, informative document that functions as both art and historical archive. The work is characteristic of the period's interest in documenting state events through the medium of etching, providing a window into the visual culture of the early sixteenth century.