Portret van kunstenaar Quinten Massijs 1752 - 1762

Girolamo Rossi II created this print, titled "Portret van kunstenaar Quinten Massijs," sometime between 1682 and 1762. It offers a window into the cultural and professional identity of artists during the early modern period. The portrait depicts Quinten Massijs, a Renaissance painter from Antwerp. It presents Massijs not just as an artist, but also emphasizes his status and profession, as highlighted by the inscription below the image which translates to "Quinten Massijs, called the blacksmith and painter". The attire, particularly the fur-lined coat and hat, indicates a level of affluence and recognition, reflecting the rising status of artists in society. Rossi, who was known for his prints and reproductions, would have been catering to a market eager to collect images of notable figures, thereby contributing to the construction of artistic fame. This portrait plays into how society values and remembers individuals, by capturing and celebrating the identities of artists like Massijs.