Portrait of Gilbrecht von Holzhausen (1514-1550) 1535

Conrad Faber von Kreuznach painted this oil on wood panel, portrait of Gilbrecht von Holzhausen, likely around 1540. Dominating this portrait is the ostentatious golden collar, a symbol of wealth and status during the Renaissance. Such adornments were not merely decorative; they were proclamations of identity, deeply embedded in the social fabric of the time. Consider how similar displays appear across cultures—from the torques of Celtic warriors to the beaded collars of African royalty. This impulse to signal status through ornament seems timeless, almost primal. Yet, observe the letter held delicately in Gilbrecht’s hand, a reminder of humanism and personal intellect. The tension between outward display and inner thought is palpable, mirroring the psychological complexities of the era. The portrait is not just a record of appearance but an emotional and intellectual landscape. As we journey through art history, note how these symbols resurface, transformed yet familiar, in different epochs.