A seventeenth-century engraving by Lucas Kilian depicting Charles I of Naples, featuring formal royal iconography and decorative Baroque elements.

This engraving by Lucas Kilian depicts Charles I of Naples, also known as Charles of Anjou. Kilian, a German printmaker active in Augsburg, produced this work as part of a series documenting historical figures. The portrait follows the conventions of seventeenth-century royal iconography, presenting the monarch within an oval frame. The subject wears a crown and a mantle adorned with the fleur-de-lis, symbols of his royal status and French lineage.

The composition is structured with a formal, heraldic quality. Below the central portrait, two small figures flank a cartouche inscribed with the Latin phrase 'NOXIAS HERBAS', a reference to the historical reputation of the king. The background of the oval frame is filled with fine cross-hatching, a technique that demonstrates the technical precision Kilian applied to his copper plates. The surrounding cartouche features decorative scrollwork, typical of the Northern Baroque style, which adds a sense of weight and formality to the image.

Kilian was known for his ability to translate the textures of fabric and metal into the medium of engraving. In this print, the lines defining the crown and the folds of the mantle show a disciplined approach to shading and form. The work functions as a historical record, intended for inclusion in a larger collection or biographical volume. The presence of the coat of arms at the base provides additional heraldic context, identifying the subject through visual shorthand common in the period. This print offers a clear example of the printmaking traditions in Augsburg during the early seventeenth century, where technical skill and historical narrative were combined to produce works for a scholarly and aristocratic audience.