Portret van Cornelis van den Brande 1623 - 1668

This is Reinier van Persijn’s portrait of Cornelis van den Brande, captured in engraving. Note the intricate coat of arms displayed prominently above his head, a symbol of lineage and power. The oval frame reminds me of classical portraiture. The inscription around the frame includes the title "OVERSTE VAN EEN REGIMENT INFANTERIE," marking his military rank. Van den Brande’s armor reminds us of the enduring image of the miles christiana—the Christian soldier. We find the roots of this imagery in early Christian art, where the armor of the Roman soldier was reinterpreted as spiritual defense. His confident gaze holds a psychological intensity, a desire to project strength and authority. This iconography has gone through a non-linear, cyclical progression, and resurfaces to take on new meanings in different historical contexts.