Self-portrait (1379) is the painting Peter Parler is best remembered for; it belongs to the Katedrála, Prága. Head of Charles IV (1375) and Öniségképmás (1379) complete the trio of best-loved canvases. Our catalogue counts 4 works by Peter Parler. Here are the 4 most famous, with the year, the museum and the story of each canvas.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated október 2026. Each painting on this page can be ordered as an oil reproduction painted by hand on linen canvas, or as a fine art print, made to the size you choose.
To look upon this relief is to encounter a man caught in a moment of quiet contemplation. Carved from stone around 1379, this bust offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the identity of Peter Parler. He presents himself not as a distant figure of authority, but as a man of flesh and bone, rendered with a startling degree of naturalism. The head is slightly tilted, a subtle movement that breaks…
A heavy silence resides in the gray stone of this bust. The face of Charles IV emerges from the material, a study in rigid dignity and the weight of a crown. Light falls across the brow, catching the deep-set eyes and the sharp, carved lines of a beard that seems to hold the dust of centuries. It is a portrait of a man who shaped a kingdom, rendered in the…
Peter Parler – Egy Megköszönhető Építő és Szobrász Utókor számára A német származású Peter Parler (1330–1399) egy igazán különleges művész volt, aki nem csak a középkori építészet és szobrászat élére állt, hanem az ő művének köszönhetően Európa legnagyobb katedráljának megépítése és Szilézia nagy központjának díszítése vált történelmi emlékévé. Együttműködése és innovációja jelentős mértékben befolyásolta a korszak művészi nyelvét, és ő maga egy olyan időszak ikonikus alakjaként tekinthető, amikor az építőipari…
The four subjects that return most often on these canvases, each with its best-loved example.
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Peter Parler | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Katedrála |
Prága | 3 | Self-portrait, Head of Charles IV, Öniségképmás |
 Szent Vitus-székesegyház |
Prága | 1 | Tomb of Ottokar II |
Peter Parler's dated canvases on this page run from 1375 to 1379, only 5 years: here they are, year after year.
A heavy silence resides in the gray stone of this bust. The face of Charles IV emerges from the material, a study in rigid dignity and the weight…
To look upon this relief is to encounter a man caught in a moment of quiet contemplation. Carved from stone around 1379, this bust offers a rare, intimate…
Peter Parler – Egy Megköszönhető Építő és Szobrász Utókor számára A német származású Peter Parler (1330–1399) egy igazán különleges művész volt, aki nem csak a középkori építészet és…
Self-portrait (1379), Katedrála, Prága. Head of Charles IV (1375) and Öniségképmás (1379) follow.
Peter Parler, born in 1330, was 49 years old: Self-portrait dates from 1379.
4 works by Peter Parler are in our catalogue, dated 1375 to 1379.
Mostly in Katedrála (Prága) and Szent Vitus-székesegyház (Prága); the list above names each museum and its canvases.
In 1379, which gave 2 of the 4 works on this page, Self-portrait among them.
The earliest canvas here is Head of Charles IV (1375); the latest is Self-portrait (1379).
Stone, used in 2 of the 4 works on this page.
The Katedrála, Prága holds 3 of the works on this page, among them Self-portrait, Head of Charles IV and Öniségképmás.
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered from its own page as an oil reproduction painted by hand, or as a fine art print, in the size you choose.
In the heart of the Late Middle Ages, a period defined by soaring spires and profound devotion, Peter Parler emerged as one of the most influential architects and sculptors of his era. Born into a distinguished dynasty of master builders, he carried the weight of tradition while simultaneously forging a new, expressive language for European architecture. Known variously as Peter von Gemünd or Petr Parléř, his identity was inextricably linked to the Parler family, a lineage of craftsmen whose influence stretched across much of Central Europe. His journey began in the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, where he received his early training, eventually leading him to work at significant medieval building sites including Strasbourg, Cologne, and Nuremberg.
The trajectory of Parler’s career reached its zenith when he moved to Prague, the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Here, under the patronage of the Holy Roman Empire, he was able to realize a vision of architectural grandeur that would define the skyline of the city for centuries. His work at St. Vitus Cathedral stands as his most enduring legacy, a monumental achievement where he utilized complex networks of ribbed vaults to create an interior that seems to defy gravity. Through his engineering brilliance, the heavy stone walls appear light and ethereal, allowing for expansive windows that transform the cathedral into a vessel for celestial light.
Parler was not merely a builder of structures but a sculptor of profound emotional depth. His ability to breathe life into cold stone allowed him to bridge the gap between the rigid forms of earlier Gothic traditions and a more naturalistic, human-centric approach. This mastery is perhaps most intimately captured in his Self-Portrait, an evocative piece that offers a rare glimpse into the artist's own contemplative soul. In this work, one can observe the meticulous craftsmanship required to render the subtle textures of hair and the serene expression of a man deeply engaged with both his faith and his craft.
His sculptural contributions often complemented his architectural feats, creating a unified aesthetic experience within the sacred spaces he designed. Notable works such as the Head of Charles IV demonstrate his ability to capture individual character and royal dignity through the Late Gothic style. His achievements were not isolated incidents but part of a broader movement of artistic innovation that saw:
Through his hands, the stone became a chronicle of history, an enduring testament to the skill of the Parler family. His life's work remains etched in the very fabric of Europe, serving as a bridge between the medieval world and the burgeoning complexities of the later centuries.
