Brustbild eines älteren Mannes mit blondem Bart, den Mantel über die Schulter geworfen 

Daniel Dumonstier drew this portrait of an older man with charcoal and chalk sometime in the early 17th century. The man’s fur-lined cloak and meticulously groomed beard are visual codes that speak of status. Dumonstier worked in France at a time of great religious and political upheaval. Artists such as Dumonstier were employed by the court of King Louis XIII, producing propaganda that supported the monarchy and the Catholic church. They created images of powerful figures and promoted a sense of national identity and cultural unity, lending artistic support to the prevailing social order. The Städel Museum provides a unique opportunity to understand the work of artists like Dumonstier. By looking at the museum's collection of portrait drawings we can begin to understand the political role of portraiture and the complex social conditions that shaped artistic production during this period.