Unknown Painter, Portrait of Joseph of Habsbourg, King of the Romans, Future Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire as Joseph I (1705-1711), circa 1690.
The Painting
Beautiful collector's painting, portrait of future Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I, oil on canvas datable in the second half of the seventeenth century. Excellent artistic quality. Original frame. First canvas with small restorations, highlighted with Wood’s lamp, the work is in excellent condition.
Origin: private collection.
Canvas size: 74×5×61 cm (incl. frame).
The painting was sold a "portrait of a king", however for many reasons we definitely can assure we are facing here a portrait of Joseph de Habsburg - probably dated around 1690, when he was already "Roi des Romains" but not yet Emperor.
You can here download a presentation with the various arguments confirming the representation is indeed the one of Joseph. (download)
The History
Joseph I (Joseph Jacob Ignaz Johann Anton Eustachius; 26 July 1678 – 17 April 1711) was Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1705 until his death in 1711. He was the eldest son of Emperor Leopold I from his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg. Joseph was crowned King of Hungary at the age of nine in 1687 and was elected King of the Romans at the age of eleven in 1690. He succeeded to the thrones of Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire when his father died.
Joseph continued the War of the Spanish Succession, begun by his father against Louis XIV of France, in a fruitless attempt to make his younger brother Charles (later Emperor Charles VI) King of Spain. In the process, however, owing to the victories won by his military commander, Prince Eugene of Savoy, he did succeed in establishing Austrian hegemony over Italy. Joseph also had to contend with a protracted revolt in Hungary, fomented by Louis XIV. Neither conflict was resolved until the Treaty of Utrecht, after his death.
His motto was Amore et Timore (Latin for "Through Love and Fear"). (in Wikipedia)