Portretten van Hans Bol, Joos van Winghe en Gilles van Coninxloo 1764

Jan l' Admiral created this print of Hans Bol, Joos van Winghe and Gilles van Coninxloo sometime in the 18th century using etching techniques. This work embodies the social practice of artists paying homage to their predecessors. Here, we see three artists from the previous century memorialized. The portraits are arranged almost like a family tree, and the setting merges nature and artifice. This interplay suggests the artist finds inspiration in both life and art. Admiral made this etching in the Netherlands, a place with a rich history of printmaking, art academies, and artist guilds. These institutions shaped artistic production through training, patronage, and exhibition opportunities. By choosing these three artists as his subject, Admiral situates himself within a specific lineage and artistic tradition. He affirms the value of art history itself. To gain a deeper insight into Admiral’s artistic choices, we could examine auction records, guild membership roles, and early art criticism. Understanding these institutional contexts gives us a fuller picture of the print’s purpose and meaning.