Grev Valdemar Christian 

Grev Valdemar Christian was painted by Gerard van Honthorst using oil on canvas. Oil paint, comprised of pigment suspended in drying oil, allowed the artist to build up layers of translucent glazes, creating depth and luminosity that simply weren't possible with other media. The layered craft of oil painting was well suited to portraying rank and status through the sitters’ garments. The crisp linen lace on the sitter’s collar, and the glinting steel armor, would have taken time and dedication for skilled weavers and metalsmiths to produce. Honthorst has paid great attention to the material qualities of these costly goods, celebrating the labor involved in their creation. This portrait acts as a celebration of both the sitter's status and of the artist’s own skill as a painter. The fact that paint can imitate these crafted items so convincingly underscores the value placed on creativity in this period.