Physiognomy of a Renaissance Ruler Portraits and Descriptions of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary (1458-1490)

This book analyses the textual and visual §representations of King Matthias Corvinus in the§context of Antique physiognomical theories, focusing §mainly on those descriptions and portraits§which were influenced by the lion s physiognomy. The§last chapter deals with another group of Matthias' §portraits, namely with the Attila-faun-like images. §The analysis of Antique theories of physiognomy have §contributed to a more exact interpretation of §Matthias' portraits, while the physiognomical §comparison has resulted a more shaded picture about §his image and iconography, even in the case of the §Attila-type likenesses, where we cannot study such §clear-cut intentions. Due to this research, having§taken into consideration the king s political§intentions as well, we can place plausibly the §leonine images of king Matthias among the §Renaissance state-portraits. The examination of the §sources has proved that the role of the humanist §Galeotto Marzio must have been crucial in mediating §the physiognomical theories towards the Buda court. §It has been also demonstrated that in Galeotto's §work physiognomy appears as an element of the §theories related to good governance.