Heinrich von Rhein zum Mohren

1526 · Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels

portrait

The bearded sitter in this portrait rests his arms on a stone parapet and holds a rosary with a pomander attached. He wears a broad-rimmed hat over a gold cap, a fur coat over a black shirt and white undershirt, and a gold ring on the left index finger. In the background at left, a bridge over a lake leads to a rocky outcropping topped by a castle; on the right there is a house near a winding road, and fortifications at the edge of the lake are connected to an island by a bridge.

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About the Artist

Conrad Faber Von Creuznach

1500 – 1553

Conrad Faber von Creuznach (also Konrad Faber von Kreuznach), German painter and woodcuts designer formerly known as Master of Holzhausen-portraits. Little is known about his life before 1524. It is speculated that he served as a draftsman and illustrator for the publisher Peter Schöffer who was a former employee of Johannes Gutenberg. The first recorded mention of Faber von Creuznach is from 1526 when he is mentioned as a journeyman in the workshop of Hans Fyoll from Frankfurt. Faber experienced a debt ridden life with modest commissioned works. Nothing is known about his first marriage. His second marriage was in 1537 to Catherine, a daughter of a wool weaver. She was a citizen of Frankfurt and Faber got the citizenship of Frankfurt because of his marriage. In his later years Faber created several significant topographical works including the template view of Frankfurt in Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia (1550). Conrad Faber von Creuznach's early works include illustrations that were published by the publisher Peter Schöffer between 1517-1522. In the 420 pages of the issue there are 153 Faber woodcuts and collaborations with other fellow workers for 250 pictures. Faber's works stand out as lively illustrations. Faber used sketches of Middle Rhine and Rhineland cities that he had made during his travels to make illustrations of ancient Greek Sieges while he depicted Princes of his time as ancient Roman warlords. A large number of the paintings by Conrad Faber are portraits of wealthy clients and also landscapes and cityscapes. He depicted the costumes of patrons with lavish and colourful detail. His paintings were signed as 'CVC'. Conrad Faber von Creuznach is particularly noted for his 1535 portrait works of Gilbrecht von Holzhausen and his wife Anna Ratzeburger. His main work include the portrait of Justinian and Anna von Holzhausen (1536). In 1547 he designed a tapestry for Ogier von Melem, the grandson of Johann von Melem. His last work is a woodcut depicting Frankfurt during the siege of 1552.

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