# Portrait Bust of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [UNKNOWN GOLDSMITH, German]() - Date: 1151-1200 - Technique: Bronze, gilded, partly silver plated, height 32 cm ## Commentary Portrait Bust of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa 1155-60 Bronze, gilded, partly silver plated, height 32 cm Stiftskirche St. Johannes, Schloss Cappenberg, Selm The base of this fine piece of goldsmith's work \(called the Cappenberg Head\) rests on four dragon's or lion's heads, above them an octagonal castle wall with four corner turrets. Three angels, kneeling like Atlas figures, support the upper plate with battlements. \(A fourth supporting figure is lost.\) On it rests the portrait head, which is affixed by means of cast pins to the middle tower of the base. The fact that this head had originally represented Frederick Barbarosssa is confirmed by a donation document. Frederick Barbarossa \(1123-1190\) was a powerful Hohenstaufen emperor. Like Henry IV, he came into conflict with the papacy and invaded Italy five times. ## Related artworks - [Agraffe with a Depiction of the Virgin and Saints]() - [Altar frontal]() - [Amulet]() - [Arm reliquary of St Lawrence]() - [Arm Reliquary]() - [Book cover]() - [Book Cover]() - [Book Cover]() - [Book cover]() - [Book Cover]() - [Bust reliquary of Charlemagne]() - [Candelabra with seven arms]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()