Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 4 works by Peter Parler in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Peter Parler's most famous painting is Self-portrait (1379), whose original hangs in the Cathedral, Prague. Head of Charles IV (1375) and Self-Portrait (1379) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 4 works by Peter Parler in our catalog, the gallery presents the 4 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
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…
A Reflection of Faith and Craftsmanship: Examining Peter Parler’s Self-Portrait Peter Cavallini, born around 1240 in Rome and tragically dying circa 1330 in the same city, stands as a pivotal figure bridging the Gothic and Early Renaissance periods in Italian art. While his life was relatively short, marked by both artistic triumph and personal hardship – notably a severe eye injury sustained during his studies of solar eclipses – Cavallini’s…
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Peter Parler | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cathedral |
Prague | 3 | Self-portrait, Head of Charles IV, Self-Portrait |
 St. Vitus Cathedral |
Prague | 1 | Tomb of Ottokar II |
5 years, 1375 to 1379, hold Peter Parler's whole dated career on this page: a short one, seen here year by year through its most famous originals.
Pick a year to see its originals.
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…
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…
More from 1379
Self-portrait (1379), Cathedral, Prague. Head of Charles IV (1375) and Self-Portrait (1379) come next.
49 years old: Self-portrait dates from 1379, and Peter Parler was born in 1330.
Our catalog holds 4 works by Peter Parler, dated from 1375 to 1379.
Mostly in Cathedral (Prague) and St. Vitus Cathedral (Prague). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1379: 2 of the 4 works on this page were made then, Self-portrait among them.
On this page, the earliest is Head of Charles IV (1375) and the latest Self-portrait (1379).
Stone, for 2 of the 4 works on this page.
Self-portrait, Head of Charles IV and Self-Portrait: the Cathedral, Prague holds 3 of the works on this page.
Yes, as a reproduction: the original stays in its museum, but any painting on this page can be painted by hand for you, made to order one at a time, from the painting's own page.
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.
