Portret van Henrik de Fromantiou 1653 - 1680

Johann Friedrich Leonard created this print of Henrik de Fromantiou, painter to the Elector of Brandenburg, sometime in the later 17th century. The print presents us with a series of codes that speak to the elevated social role of the artist at this time. Made in the Netherlands, it shows the sitter posed with the tools of his trade, next to classical sculpture, and framed by a luxurious curtain, all of which were visual markers of his social status. The institutions of courtly patronage were vital to artistic production, yet they also exerted a conservative influence, with artists keen to promote themselves to those in power. It presents a fascinating case study in the politics of imagery. Studying this image in the context of the Northern Renaissance, considering its engagement with classical ideals, and researching the institutions of artistic patronage can offer a fuller understanding of the public role of art at this time.