Het Spaanse huwelijk: Filips de Schone trouwt met Johanna van Castilië

Het Spaanse huwelijk: Filips de Schone trouwt met Johanna van Castilië by Albrecht Dürer is a significant print created around 1515. Executed on paper, this work of graphic art exemplifies the meticulous draftsmanship characteristic of the Northern Renaissance master. The subject commemorates the politically pivotal marriage of Philip the Handsome, Duke of Burgundy, and Joanna of Castile, a union which fundamentally secured the unification of the Spanish and Habsburg crowns.

Dürer, recognized as the preeminent artist of the German Renaissance, utilized the medium of prints to disseminate historical and religious narratives widely across Europe. Although the actual wedding took place nearly twenty years prior, Dürer's decision to depict Het Spaanse huwelijk: Filips de Schone trouwt met Johanna van Castilië in 1515 highlights the enduring geopolitical significance of the union. This piece reflects the intense interest in imperial and dynastic histories prevalent in Germany at the time, positioning the artist's German perspective on a crucial moment in Habsburg history. The reproducible nature of these prints ensured Dürer’s interpretation reached a wide audience.

The level of detail achieved in this historical depiction confirms Dürer’s mastery of the printmaking process. This specific impression is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it serves as a key example of 16th-century German graphic arts. As a celebrated work produced over five centuries ago, images of this influential print are often available today through public domain resources, ensuring continued study and appreciation of Dürer’s legacy within art history.