The Man of Sorrows by Hans von Aachen in Břevnov Monastery in Prague.

This study presents a hitherto unpublished painting of The Man of Sorrows, located in Břevnov monastery in Prague, by the Rudolfine court painter Hans von Aachen. The aim is to investigate not only the provenance of the work and the presumable commissioner, Abbot Wolfgang Selender of Prošovice, but also the painting's place in Von Aachen's oeuvre, possible sources of inspiration for its iconography as well as formal design in Italy and Prague. Among other findings, a technological survey conducted during its restoration revealed a man's face in the lower layers of paint, possibly a portrayal of the Emperor Rudolf II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]