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Asanar(s(cpatron,theBavarianDukeLudwigXisalmostexclusivelyknownforhisconstruc(onofthefirstItalianatepalacenorthoftheAlps,themagnificentStadtresidenzinLandshut.YetLudwighadalreadyreignedforovertwentyyearswhenhebeganthisprojectin1536.Intheart-historicalliterature,theearlierperiodofLudwig’sac(vityasanartpatronhasbeenlargelyovershadowedbythecomplexityandambi(onofthelaterStadtresidenz.

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TodayIwillbeexaminingsomeofLudwig’sar(s(ccommissionsfromthisunder-studiedperiod,specificallythroughworksbyhiscourtar(stHansWer(nger,completedduring(roughly)thefirstdecadeoftheDuke’spatronage.TheseearlyyearsofLudwig’sreignareofpar(cularimportanceforanumberofreasons.NotonlywasheestablishingthephysicalandculturalcharacterofhiscourtatLandshut,acitywithitsownrichhistoryofducalartpatronage,buthewasalsonego(a(nghisnewroleasBavaria’sco-ruler,withhisbrotherWilhelmIV,anen(relyunprecedentedpoli(calposi(on.Ludwig’sar(s(cprojectsduringhisearlyyearsofreignarebothvisualresponsestotherecent,turbulenthistoryofBavariaandmanifestosforhisinten(onsasaruler.

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Thepoli(calsitua(oninBavariainthefirstfiSeenyearsofthe16thcenturywasrathercomplicated,andneedssomeaTen(onbeforewecanbeginexaminingLudwig’scommissions.Theterritory,muchsmallerinsizethanthestateofBavariaistoday,wasdividedintotwoduchies,Bavaria-LandshutandBavaria-Munich,withtheseatsofpowerlocatedinthe(tularci(es.BothduchieswereruledbymembersoftheWiTelsbachfamily.

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In1503,theDukeinLandshut,George“theRich,”diedwithoutamaleheir.Thisledtothe“LandshutWarofSuccession”betweenGeorge’sdaughterElisabethandson-inlawRuprechtvonderPfalz,andDukeAlbrechtIVofBavaria-Munich.ASerbloodybaTlesin1504and1505,whichdecimatedthecountrysideandterrorizedtheresidents,andaSerthedeathsofbothElisabethandRuprecht,theHolyRomanEmperorMaximilianIsteppedintoendtheconflictwithhisKölnerSpruch(or,“VerdictatCologne”).

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Inthisruling,MaximiliangaveBavaria-LandshuttoAlbrecht(whowas,incidentally,theEmperor’sbrother-in-law),andcreatedanewterritory,calledPfalz-Neuburg,forElisabethandRuprecht’schildren.MaximilianclaimedforhimselfthreeBavaria-LandshutterritorieslocatedintheAlpsasacommission,sotospeak.WiththeKölnerSpruch,Bavariawas,forthefirst(meincenturies,unitedunderoneruler,AlbrechtIV.NolongerwastheduchydividedbetweentheMunichandLandshutbranchesoftheWiTelsbachfamily,butwasinsteadaunifiedpoli(calandterritorialen(ty.Albrechtsubsequentlybecamepreoccupiedwithensuringthepoli(calunityofBavariainperpetuity.Tothisend,on8July1506heins(tutedanewlawofprimogeniturewherebytherulershipofBavariainitsen(retywouldpasstotheeldestson.

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WhenAlbrechtdiedin1508,hissonWilhelmIVassumedthethrone.But,asthesecondson,wheredidthisleaveLudwig?

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Bornin1495,hewasonlytenyearsoldwhenhisfatherdecreedtheprimogeniturelawexcludinghimfrompar(cipa(oninthegovernanceoftheduchy.In1514,withthesupportofhismotherKunigunde(thesisterofEmperorMaximilian)andusingthelegalargumenta(onofhispoli(caladvisor(thegreatGermanhumanistDietrichvonPlieningen),Ludwigpe((onedforhisrighttoco-governance.Wilhelmresisted,ci(ngtheprimogeniturelaw.Whenitappearedthatthestrifebetweenthebrotherswasabouttodescendintoarmedconflict,theBavarianparliamentbeggedWilhelmtonego(ate.Wilhelmhadbythispointdevelopedhisownreasonsforreconcilingwithhisbrother:theEmperorhadthrownhissupportbehindLudwig,whichmeantthatheprobablyhaddesignsonanotherchunkofBavarianterritory.Thebrothersfinallycametoanunderstanding:theywouldruletogether,splijngthemanagementoftheduchyintotwoadministra(vesec(ons.WilhelmwouldoverseetheareaaroundMunich,LudwigtheareaaroundLandshut.

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Thus,in1515LudwigmovedtoLandshut.Duringthesefirstyearsofrulership,heresidedinTrausnitzCastle,onahilloverlookingLandshutandtheIsarRiver.Archivalsourcestellusoftheextensiverenova(onsLudwigcarriedoutinthemedievalcastleoverthefollowingyears;unfortunately,duetofurtherrenova(onsinthelate16thcentury,wedonotknowwhatmanyoftheseprojectswouldhavelookedlike.

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Localar(sans,thepainterHansWer(ngeramongthem,werehiredtocarryouttherenova(ons.In1518,LudwiggaveWer(ngeracloakandpaidhimawhopping604florins(almostthree(meswhatthear(stwouldreceiveforalargealtarpiecein1520)forvariousworkhehadcarriedoutatTrausnitz.Amongthesewerepain(ngsexecutedbyWer(ngerfortheRatsstube(or“councilchamber”)andtheducalapartments.Itisunclearfromthewordingoftheentryinthepaymentrecordsifthesewerepanelpain(ngsorfrescoes;bothweremediaWer(ngerusedelsewhere,soeitherisapossibility.Whatisclear,however,areLudwig’smo(va(onswiththesecommissions.Thecastlecompound,beguninthe12thcentury,hadundergoneafewrenova(onprojectsinthe15thcenturyduringthereignofthethreeso-called“RichDukes”ofBavaria-Landshut.ButtoLudwig,thecastlewasterriblyoutdated.ARenaissancemonarchrequiredaphysicalspaceforhiscourtthatwasanaccuratereflec(onofhisownself-image.Ludwig,whoseambi(onandhighopinionofhimselfisobviousfromhisaggressivecampaignforco-rulership,neededaresidenceofwhichhecouldbeproud.HealsoneededaspacethatbefiTednewhisstatusasDukeofBavaria.Furthermore,thetwospacesWer(ngerpainted–theducalapartmentsandthecouncilchamber–representedtwodivergentspheresoftheduke’sac(vity.Whiletheapartmentswerenotbyanymeansprivate,asmanyofthemembersofcourt

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AlsoshortlyaSerhismovetoLandshut,LudwigcommissionedaportraitfromWer(nger.Completedin1516ands(llinitsoriginalframe,Wer(nger’spanelpain(ngdepictstheDukeinthree-quarterview.Hesitsbeforeaparapetdrapedinredbrocadecloth;inthebackgroundisasweepingvista.TypicalforWer(nger’sportraitureisthedecora(vegarlandthathangsfromthepaintedarchwayabovethesiTer.Ludwig’sfacedisplaysaplacidyetresolvedexpressionashegazestohisright.Ludwig’sclothesaresomewhatmodest,althoughhedoeswearaluxuriousfurcloakandfashionableblackberet.Inaddi(ontohisgoldnecklace,healsowearsagoldringonhisleSforefinger.Wer(ngerdrawsaTen(ontothisringbyhavingLudwigencircleitwithhisrightfingers,presen(ngittotheviewerasbeingofspecialimportance.ThisringisengravedwiththeBavariancoat-of-arms,andthusasignifierofLudwig’snewposi(onasduke.Yettheimageryissubtle–theonlyovertindicatorofhisstatusassovereignwithinthepaintedimageisthisunostenta(ousring.Thiscertainlybefitsaco-ruler,especiallyonewhoonlyrecentlyacquiredtheposi(on,andeventhatasaresultoffamilialinfigh(ng.SohereLudwigpresentshimselfasarulerwhoisnottriumphantinhisnewrole,butratherfocusedanddeterminedonthetaskathand,thatis,thegoodgovernanceofhisterritory.Thisinferenceisgivenfurtherweightbythesymboliclandscapebehindtheparapet.

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Thesceneryisdividedintotwohalvesalongaver(calaxis.Ontherightside,atwisted,deadtreeandafewstumpsstandonabarrenpatchofearth;inthedistancearethevagueoutlinesofthesnow-coveredAlps.OntheleS,tree-coveredcragsriseupabovealake,andthelushfoliageextendsbothtoapairofleafytreesintheforegroundandthedistantgreenhillsinthebackground.Thisdivisionofthelandscapesuggeststwodifferent(mesofyear,winterandspring.Fromthisreading,furtherassocia(onspresentthemselves:juxtaposi(onsbetweendeathandrenewal,scarcityandprosperity,hardshipandease.ItistellingthatLudwigisposi(onedfacingawayfromthenega(vesideofthelandscape.Turninghisbackonthedesolatescenery,hesymbolicallyalsorejectstherecentpoli(calturmoiloftheWarofSuccession,andthewarheandhisbrothernearlyfoughtovertheprimogenitureissue.Thetumultisover,andasanewrulerLudwigcannowlookaheadtobeTer(mes.Hissubjectscantoo,sincetheimagerysuggeststhatunderhisruleBavariahasagainreturnedtopeace.Thespring(meno(onofabundanceisreinforcedbythegarlandmo(f,reminiscentasitisofcornucopias.

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Althoughwedonotknowexactlywherethisportraitwouldhavebeenoriginallyhung,itislikelythatitwouldhavebeenkeptintheducalapartmentsinTrausnitzCastle.Thereisnoevidencethatitwaspartofasetofportraitsoffamilymembers,suchasthoseWer(ngerhadcompletedin1515foranotherhigh-profilepatron,PhilippvonderPfalz,thePrince-BishopofFreisingandanotherWiTelsbachfamilymember.Givenitsimagery,thisstand-aloneportraitofthenewdukewouldhavebeenpar(cularlyeffec(veinarecep(onhall.There,itwouldhaveservedasalegi(mizingvisualexpressionofrule,apar(cularconcernforLudwigconsideringthecircuitousroutehetooktothethrone.Theportraitwouldalsohavebeenafic(vecounterparttotheactualfigureofLudwigashecarriedoutstatebusinessorreceivedvisitorsandemissaries.

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Wer(ngerpaintedaverydifferentportraitofthedukeelevenyearslater,in1527.Ludwig,alongwithhisbrother,isfeaturedonthestained-glassdonorpor(onoftheaxialwindowinthechoiroftheChurchofOurLadyinIngolstadt,alsoknownastheIngolstadtMinster.Wilhelm,asbefitstheolderbrother,appearsontheheraldicright.BothdukesareoupiTedinknightlyarmorandkneelinaspacedefinedbystonecolumnsanddecora(vescrollwork.TheBavariancoat-of-armsisrepeatedtwice,onceonLudwig’ssideandonceonWilhelm’s.Sincebothbrothersappearintheglasspanels,howdoweknowthatthecommissionstemsfromLudwig?Well,wedon’tknowforsure.

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ThewindowisoupiTedwithaninscrip(on,locateddirectlybelowthedonorpanel,whichreads,“BythegraceofGod,WilhelmandLudwig,brothers,CountPala(nesoftheRhine,DukesinUpperandLowerBavaria,reigningsince1511,intheyearofourlord1527.”Whilethetextindicatesthatbothbrotherswereinvolvedindona(ngthewindow,IwouldarguethatLudwigwastheprimarypatronandthedrivingforcebehindthecommission.

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Variousfactorsintheimagerysuggestthisreading.Firstofall,althoughHansWer(ngeralsooccasionallyworkedforWilhelm,thear(st’s(estotheLandshutcourtweremuchstronger.Ludwigalsodoesnotwearhishelmetinthewindow’simagery.Instead,itisbeingpresentedtohimbyapuTowhoapproachesfromtherightmarginofthepicturespace.Thisaddsaddi(onalpictorialinterestonLudwig’ssideofthecomposi(on,andkeepsthetwodonorfiguresfromappearingiden(calandsta(c.TheabsenceofahelmetalsoallowsLudwig’sphysiognomytobemoredominantthanhisbrother’s.Ignoringtheheraldicdevicessignalinghisiden(tyasadukeofBavaria,inhissuitofarmorandfullhelmet,Wilhelmcouldbeanyone.

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Hisfaceistoosmallandnotindividualizedenoughforittobeatrueportraitlikeness.IofferhereforcomparisonaportraitofWilhelmdonebyWer(nger,toshowjusthowgeneralizedthefaceinthewindowis.

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Ludwig’sfeatures,ontheotherhand,areindividualized,andhisheadstandsoutplainlyagainsttheredfloralbackground.Thisalsoallowstheviewer,standingfarbelowthewindow,torecognizeLudwig’sbigbushybeard,andthushisiden(ty,farmoreeasilythanthefeaturesofthehelmetedfigureofhisbrother.

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Theaxialwindowisthemostimportantwindowinthemostimportantpartofanychurch.Thechoiristheliturgicalandspiritualcenteroftheen(reecclesias(calspace,asitwastheloca(onwheremasswascelebratedandtheprimaryrelicswerekept.Furthermore,thechoirofIngolstadtMinsterhadbeenaburialplaceforBavariandukesinthe15thcentury,sothechurchalsoheldaspecialdynas(cassocia(onforthetwoWiTelsbachdukes.Theseearlierdukeshadcreatedanendowmentatthechurch,toensurethatmasseswouldbecarriedoutintheirmemory.In1527,LudwigandWilhelmrenewedthisducalendowment,pledgingfundsforthechurchandtheperformanceofmass.Thedona(onofthewindowwas(edtothisrenewalofprincelypatronageattheMinster.Notonlywerethedukesprovidingfinancialsupportforliturgicalac(vi(es,theywerealsocontribu(ngtothefabricofthechurchspace.Placingthemselvesintothemostsignificantandvisiblepor(onofthechurchunderlinedtheirpietyandmagnanimity.Mostimportantly,throughthewindow,LudwigandWilhelmmadevisibletheirpoli(calandspiritualauthority.

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ButthetemporalandspiritualauthorityofallGermanprinceshadonlyrecentlybeenchallengedbyamonkfromWiTenberg,Mar(nLuther,withhis“95Theses”of1517.Withfurtherwri(ngssuchas“OntheFreedomofaChris(an”and“TotheChris(anNobilityoftheGermanNa(on,”itseemedasifLuther’sideaofreligiousautonomyandthepriesthoodofallbelieversextendedalsointothepoli(calrealm.AlthoughthiswascertainlynotLuther’sinten(on,itwasperceivedasthreateningtotheworldlyhierarchy.LudwigandWilhelmdecidedveryearlyonthatBavariawouldremainalignedwiththeChurchinRome.

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Luther’swri(ngswerebannedandburned,Protestantpreacherswereincarcerated,andthefirstBavarianreligiousmandaterequiringallci(zensoftheduchytoremainCatholicwaspublishedin1522,remarkablyearlyinthehistoryoftheReforma(on.Notmerelyareligiousdecision,theDukes’policyofuni(ngtheen(retyofBavariaunderonereligionwasapoli(caldecisionaswell.Thedona(onofthewindow,withitsenormousAnnuncia(onscene,wasthusalsoaresponsetothetumultuousreligiousclimateoftheday.Theloca(onofthewindowinIngolstadtisalsosignificantwithregardtothechallengeofProtestan(sm.

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OneofLuther’sloudestadversarieswasDr.JohannesEck,aprofessoroftheologyattheUniversityofIngolstadt.ItwasEckwhochallengedLutherinthefamousDisputa(onatLeipzigin1517andwhopersonallytravelledtoRomeinordertosecureandbringbackthepapalbullexcommunica(ngLuther.UnderEck,Ingolstadtbecameahotbedofan(-Protestantac(vity.Indeed,the1527windowdona(oncoincideswiththebeginningofEck’stermasthechurch’srector;whetherornotthiswasafurtherimpetusbehindthecommissionisunclear.However,itwasnotjustEckwhobridgedagapbetweentheUniversityandtheChurchofOurLady.AlltheofficialUniversitychurchservicestookplaceintheMinster,andalluniversityprofessors(atthispoints(llmostlyordainedclerics)heldplacesofhonorinthechoirstalls.Notonlyabeau(fuladdi(ontothemostimportantareainthechurch,thewindowalsoshowedsupportandsolidaritytoIngolstadtUniversityasalocusofan(-Lutheranism.

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DuringtheearlyyearsofLudwig’sreign,thenoveltyofhispoli(calsitua(onandtheaSermathofthewarthatplacedhimintheroleofdukeofBavarianecessitatedartworksthataddressedpoten(alpoli(calareasofconcern,par(cularlytheideologyofrulershipandreligiousauthority.Addi(onally,thelackofacourtinLandshutbetween1503and1515requiredthenewcourttoestablishitsownar(s(candintellectualculture.HansWer(nger’ssuccessduringtheseveryyearsisatestamenttohisversa(lityasanar(st,andhisabilitytocreateartworkthatreflectedandcontributedtothecultureoftheLandshutcourtandar(culatedtheideasandconceitsofthenewruler,LudwigX.

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