Hispania

1587

Return to Germany

After long years in Italy he returns to his homeland, first to Augsburg, where he paints portraits for the wealthy Fugger family; he also works in Munich, where he is commissioned to paint two altarpieces for the church of St Michael (other accounts date his return to about 1588).

1589

Chooses Munich as his residence

After visiting his native Cologne and making another trip to Venice, he chooses Munich as his residence and paints several works for Duke William V of Bavaria. Under the influence of the strictly Catholic court he develops an iconography strongly shaped by Counter-Reformation ideas.

1594

Raised to the nobility

Emperor Rudolf II, who had appointed him court painter two years earlier, raises the artist to the nobility.

1596

Move to Prague

Having married Regina, daughter of the court composer Orlando di Lasso, in Munich, he moves with her to Prague, where he stays for the rest of his life (other accounts date the move to 1597 or even 1601); the family had five children. He had been court painter since 1592 but was not obliged to live at court and had previously worked from Munich.

1596–1615 · Local de trabalho

Prague

1603–1605

Court visits: portraits of the emperor's prospective brides

He travels to Innsbruck, Venice, Turin, Mantua and Modena, partly to portray potential future consorts of the emperor; under this pretext he was also to learn the terms of a marriage and the likely dowry.