Robert Sidney, jarl af Leicester 1617

Simon de Pas created this print of Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester, in 1617. The print offers us a window into the rigid social hierarchies of Jacobean England. Sidney, a member of the aristocracy, is adorned in finery, complete with a fur-lined robe and elaborate lace collar, each detail signifying his status and power. The Latin inscriptions and heraldic symbols that frame the portrait are not merely decorative; they reinforce Sidney's lineage and noble virtues. Consider how de Pas’s strategic use of line and texture not only captures Sidney’s likeness but also conveys his authority and self-possession. Yet, these images of power were carefully constructed. Portraits like these served to legitimize the existing social order. While Sidney's image projects strength, one might reflect on the lives of those excluded from such representations. This print invites us to consider how images function to shape and reinforce societal norms, prompting questions about who is seen, who is unseen, and what stories remain untold.