Portret van Guillaume Philandrier 1597 - 1599

Robert Boissard created this engraving, Portrait of Guillaume Philandrier, sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. The print celebrates the architect Guillaume Philandrier. Architectural drawings, like the one in the image, circulated widely throughout Europe, influencing building design and the understanding of classical forms. Boissard frames Philandrier with classical columns and stylized scorpions. Philandrier is shown in the dress of a scholar. His hands gesture in the manner of one explaining a difficult concept. Philandrier was known for his commentary on Vitruvius, the famous Roman architect. In fact, the inscription below the portrait says that Philandrier is second only to Vitruvius in his architectural glory. To understand this image better, we might look at emblem books and architectural treatises from the period. These sources can help to reveal the social status of architects. They can also give us insight into the relationship between artistic theory and practice during the Renaissance.