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Hans von Aachen, famous and not very
Hans von Aachen (Hans Von Aachen, 1552–1615) is considered a representative of northern mannerism. He was born in Cologne, and his father came from Aachen. In Cologne, Hans von Aachen received the basics of art education; Apparently, there he became a member of the guild of artists. In 1574, von Aachen went to Italy, lived in Venice for 14 years, worked in Rome, where a certain circle of artists from Northern Europe developed, then worked in Florence. In 1587, von Aachen returned to Germany, where he made up the name as the author of paintings on historical and mythological plots, as well as an experienced portrait painter.
Apparently, by the age of forty, Hans von Aachen gained a pan -European fame, because in 1592 the emperor Rudolf II, whose courtyard in Prague was one of the most important cultural and artistic centers of that era, “in absentia” (in Absentia) came von aachen to the title of imperial painter.
Hans von Aachen moved to Prague four years later, and later his duties were by no means limited to work with a canvas and a brush. As you know, Emperor Rudolph II saw Prague - and above all his yard - the center of European art and scientific life. He invited the best masters to Prague, acquired their work and was ready to spend huge amounts on this.
Hans von Aachen became one of the imperial “experts” authorized to take away artistic values for imperial collections. Therefore, he traveled a lot, combining the work of the artist and expert with diplomatic activities. After the death of Rudolph II, Hans von Aachen remained in the service of his heir, Emperor Matias.
Like many of his contemporaries, von aachen worked in different genres: this is a portrait, including ceremonial (by the way, Aachen owns one of the best portraits of Rudolf II); Pictures on mythological plots; genre scenes.
Hans von Aachen's works stand out by the freedom of interpretation of the "given" era of genres. Strictly speaking, he is remarkable for that: with the same skill, he writes the ceremonial portrait of the emperor, naked nature, household scene, composition for a biblical plot.
Mannerism , as we see, is a very conditional concept ...