Portret van Brian Tuke 1835 - 1899

This is Johann Leonhard Raab’s engraving of a portrait of Brian Tuke. Here, Tuke is pictured as if in life, but looming behind him is a skeleton with a scythe. This image is a memento mori, a reminder of the inevitability of death. But who was Brian Tuke and how does that affect our reading of this image? Tuke was the secretary to King Henry VIII of England, responsible for managing royal finances and correspondence. It's possible that it was made for a book of historical figures, or for a collection of prints. We know it was made in Germany in the 19th century. The inclusion of death in Tuke's portrait may reflect anxieties about mortality but may also serve as a reminder of the transience of earthly power and wealth. To understand the historical context of this engraving, researchers might consult genealogical records, historical archives, and art historical databases. Only then can the image be fully appreciated as a product of its time, shaped by prevailing attitudes toward life, death, and the role of the individual in society.