Swearing Allegiance to Emperor Leopold I on August 7, 1658

Ruprecht Hauer shows the splendidly painted Great Hall of the Nuremberg Rathaus, with its mighty barrel vault, from an elevated viewing angle. He skillfully uses a red carpet to guide the eye to the other end of the hall, where Emperor Leopold I, dressed in black, sits on an elevated chair of state. Standing next to him is the Hereditary Imperial Marshal, with sword raised. Below, the imperial councilors have gathered at the right, and the city councilors of Nuremberg at the left; the Emperor's vice-chancellor has called upon them to swear the oath of allegiance to the Emperor.