02 Unknown Author, Franz Joseph I, c. 1900, Oil on Canvas

Fotogalerie

Císař František Josef I. s následníkem trůnu Františkem Ferdinandem d’Este

The rich art collections of the Military History Institute in Prague contain dozens of portraits of members of the Habsburg Imperial House – monarchs, archdukes, and their family members. The most numerous among them are portraits of the longest reigning Habsburg Emperor, Franz Joseph I. The painters came usually from the Austrian court and their works were then copied or imitated many times. In some cases, a single artist even created several identical portraits that differed from each other only in minor details.

Although Franz Joseph I was never crowned King of Bohemia, official portraits were made for the purpose of his travels in the kingdom, mostly commissioned by the Bohemian Court Chancellery. The attributes of Bohemian royal power were often depicted together with the monarch, which can be seen as a sign of respect or a wish to achieve the impossible.

It cannot be denied that the Austrian Emperor, throughout his life, honestly fulfilled the role of the first official in the country. He had a perfect memory and sense of order. Every day, unless he was travelling, he sat at his desk from the wee hours of the morning, addressing official business. He was not only strict with himself; he also demanded his subordinates to comply 100% with his orders and directives. When he was young, he loved to paint and had undeniable artistic talent; his watercolour paintings show an eye for detail and care. However, he did not consistently pursue this hobby and did not have a warm relationship with the visual arts in general during his reign.

The private life of Franz Joseph I was struck by two tragedies: the death of Empress Elisabeth and the suicide of their son Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria. An incredible sixty-eight years of reign made Franz Joseph a major player in 19th century Central European history.