Portret van Bernard Vaillant 1643 - 1680

Johann Friedrich Leonard made this portrait of Bernard Vaillant in the second half of the 17th century with a burin. This portrait of Bernard Vaillant embodies the codes of status and wealth that prevailed in the Dutch Golden Age. Note the flowing wig, the elaborate lace collar, and the rich fabric of the coat. This society was governed by wealthy merchants who invested in the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company. These merchants wanted to be portrayed in a style that conveyed status and stability and that reflected their dominant role in society. The institutional history of portraiture can be researched in trade guilds, in records of patronage, and in the biographies of artists. These resources can help us understand more about the social context of the art. Art is never created in a vacuum; it is always contingent on the institutions that enable it.