Catafalque for Rudolf II of Austria by Giovanni Maria Filippi

Catafalque for Rudolf II of Austria 1612 - 1620

drawing, print, architecture

drawing

aged paper

toned paper

light pencil work

print

human-figures

sketch book

personal sketchbook

cross

coloured pencil

arch

human

sketchbook drawing

watercolour illustration

sketchbook art

watercolor

architecture

arm

Giovanni Maria Filippi’s "Catafalque for Rudolf II of Austria," created between 1612 and 1620, is a detailed engraving depicting the elaborate funeral structure erected for the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. The artwork, now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Filippi's talent for rendering architectural grandeur. The catafalque, a temporary structure designed to hold a coffin, features an ornate classical design with columns, arches, and a dome. It is topped by a large “R”, symbolizing the deceased emperor. This intricate composition reflects the grandeur of the Habsburg court and the reverence given to the emperor's memory, offering a unique glimpse into 17th-century funeral rituals.