Hans Muelich: Portrait of Pankraz von Freyberg zu Hohenaschau (1545)

(Unknown)

A painting by the German artist Hans Muelich (1516-1573). Muelich lived and worked in Bavaria and most of his portraits are those of leading Bavarian patricians such as this piece. The man shown on this piece is Pankraz von Freyberg zu Hohenaschau (1508-1565), a Bavarian businessman and politician. Pankraz came from the Freyberg family. As a young man he joined the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Habsburg during his wars against France. For his military service Pankraz he received the right to carry the coat of arms of the Freyberg of Aschau. As a businessman he developed the mining industry in various Southern Bavarian towns. As a protestant he came into conflict with duke Albrecht V of Bavaria during the Counter-Reformation. Pankraz was arrested in 1564 and banished to his estates were he died a year later. This painting shows Pankraz at the age of 37 and was made in 1545.