Henry of the Palatinate

Henry of the Palatinate was the son of Philip, Elector Palatine. Henry served as Bishop of Worms (1523-1552), Bishop of Freising (1541-1552), and Bishop of Utrecht from 1524 until his resignation in 1529.

He is mentioned in the provenance of the painting Vénus tenant Cupidon par la main by Jan Gossaert (Schloss German no. L18/ French no. 86). He may have owned it after he became Bishop of Utrecht succeeding Philip of Burgundy after his death in 1524. Philip’s will stipulated that his successor would inherit his possessions in the Bishopric of Utrecht.

There is a likely mention of the painting in the 1529 (revisited) estate inventory of Castle Duurstede, the episcopal residence at Wijk bij Duurstede - in a house at one of the city gates of Wijk bij Duurstede (used as a ‘pied-à-terre’ by Philip of Burgundy).