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Philipp von Gail

Bartholomaeus Bruyn the Elder, 1530s

Philipp von Gail is a painting dated to the 1530s and held by the Department of Paintings of the Louvre in Paris. Its museum record places it in Room 809. At 105 cm high and 58.5 cm wide, it is a tall, narrow panel or canvas that rewards a slow, close look.

Where to see it

Philipp von Gail belongs to the Department of Paintings of the Louvre, Paris, and the museum's records place it in Room 809. Displays change, and works can be moved, rotated or lent, so check the Louvre's official website for the painting's current display status and for opening hours and ticketing before you visit.

What to look for in person

A tall, narrow format

The first thing to register in front of this work is its shape. At 105 cm high and only 58.5 cm wide, it is almost twice as tall as it is broad. Stand back first and notice how that vertical format frames the sitter and directs your eye up and down the picture rather than across it. Then step closer and consider how much of the figure the painter chose to include, and how the space around the body is handled within such a slim field.

A portrait from the 1530s

The title names an individual, Philipp von Gail, and the work is dated to the 1530s. Treat it as a record of how a person wished to be seen at that moment. Look at the clothing, any accessories or objects held, and the pose, since in portraits of this period such details were often chosen deliberately to signal status, role or identity. Take time over the face and hands, where painters of the era frequently concentrated their most careful observation.

Reading the surface up close

Much of the pleasure of a sixteenth-century painting lies in the handling of paint, which is hard to appreciate in reproductions. Within the limits allowed in the gallery, move in and look at how textures are rendered: fabric, fur or metal if present, skin and hair. Notice whether outlines are crisp or softened and how light falls across the figure. Then step back again to see how those small decisions add up to the overall impression of a living person.

About the painting

Philipp von Gail is listed in the Louvre's Department of Paintings, which holds the museum's collection of European paintings. The work is dated to the 1530s, a decade rather than a single year, which is common for paintings where the exact moment of completion is not documented. Its recorded location is Room 809, and its dimensions are 105 cm in height and 58.5 cm in width.

The title identifies the subject by name, which tells visitors this is a portrait of a specific person rather than an allegorical or religious figure. Our fact sheet does not record the artist, the medium or the support, and it gives no biographical detail about the sitter, so this page does not attempt to supply them. Visitors who want that information should consult the Louvre's own collection database, which is the authoritative record for the work.

What can be appreciated without that background is the painting itself. Its proportions are distinctive: noticeably taller than they are wide, giving the image an upright, formal presence. The 1530s were a period in which portraiture was widely commissioned by people who wanted a lasting likeness, and paintings from this time often reward attention to costume, gesture and the careful rendering of faces and hands.

A good approach is to view the work twice: once from a few steps away to take in the full figure and the shape of the composition, and again more closely to study the surface. Because the Louvre is vast, plan your route in advance, locate the room on the museum's official map, and confirm beforehand that the painting is on view.

Key facts

More by Bartholomaeus Bruyn the Elder

• Katharina von Gail — Louvre Museum

Sources

• Wikidata Q29654734
• www.louvre.fr
• contact.louvre.fr