Portret van Cornelis Tromp 1833 - 1863

Editor: This is a rather striking print, a portrait of Cornelis Tromp created sometime between 1833 and 1863 by Franciscus Bernardus Waanders. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It has such a formal and almost regal feel, even though it's just a print. What details jump out at you? Curator: It's wonderful, isn't it? What catches my eye is how the oval frame almost seems to both contain and elevate Tromp. It’s a typical Dutch Golden Age Baroque style. Consider how Waanders, though working much later, taps into this historical language to lend Tromp, a naval hero, even more gravitas. That almost theatrical flourish – I wonder what Tromp himself would have made of it all. Does the engraver capture the real man? Or does he build the myth? It makes you think, doesn't it? Editor: It definitely does! The use of an older style to depict someone in a more contemporary light is something I hadn't considered. What about the signature below? Is that common? Curator: Ah, the flamboyant signature! Often, with portraits, you’re not just getting an image of the person but also an assertion of their importance, their very being made manifest in ink. Think of it like a visual echo of their persona reverberating outwards. And of course, the symbolic medallion nestled beneath his portrait contributes to this almost hagiographic representation. Do you agree that it enhances the narrative? Editor: Absolutely! The combination elevates the piece from just a portrait to almost a celebration. Curator: Precisely! It transforms it into something quite potent, something we can continue to discuss and enjoy long after both the artist and sitter are gone.